SINGAPORE - A businessman who caused the death of a motorcyclist through his rashness was sentenced to six weeks' jail and banned from driving for eight years on Friday.

Nandprasad Shiwsaakar, 58, managing director of a surveying and consultancy firm, had initially claimed trial but threw in the towel last Thursday, the second day of trial.

He pleaded guilty to causing the death of delivery rider Sri Ganesh, 31, at the signalised junction of Jalan Anak Bukit and Jalan Jurong Kechil by doing a rash act on Feb 3 last year at 12.42pm.

He was behind the wheel of a car when he made a right turn from Jalan Anak Bukit onto Jalan Jurong Kechil without checking for and ensuring that there was no oncoming traffic with the right of way along Jalan Anak Bukit.

He thus encroached into the rider's path, causing the motorbike to hit the left side of his car. Mr Ganesh died a month later from blood poisoning following multiple injuries.

The court heard that Nandprasad was driving on the extreme right of the four-lane Jalan Anak Bukit when he neither reduced the speed of his car nor stopped while making the right turn from the right-turning pocket.

The traffic lights facing him were green but there was no green turning arrow, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Soo Tet.

Nanprasad travelled at a relatively constant speed when making the right turn onto Jalan Jurong Kechil. In so doing, he was aware of and took the risk of causing a collision with oncoming motorists.

The traffic lights facing Mr Ganesh were green when he approached the junction, then turned to amber when he was about two car lengths from the stop-line.

He tried to swerve to his left to avoid hitting Nandprasad's car. His motorcycle skidded and he was flung onto the road after the collision.

Mr Shashi Nathan successfully applied for his client to defer the sentence until Nov 7 to attend a meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Nandprasad, who has a previous conviction for drink driving, could have been jailed for up to five years and/or fined for the offence.