SINGAPORE - A former condominium manager was speeding while driving his housemate's car in Bukit Batok last year, which hit a four-year-old girl who died in the accident.

The motorist, Sai Mee Chun, 54, who is now jobless, was sentenced to six weeks' jail and disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for five years on Thursday (Dec 6) after pleading guilty to causing death by driving in a negligent manner.

One count of causing grievous hurt to her family's maid by negligent driving was considered during sentencing.

The Straits Times understands that the child, Eleanor Tan Si Xuan, and the maid Su Su Hlaing, 38, a Myanmar national, were jaywalking when the accident occurred.

Ms Su Su Hlaing had picked up Eleanor from kindergarten at around 6.40pm on Oct 9 last year. They did not use an overhead bridge to cross the two-lane Bukit Batok Central.

The little girl called out to the maid when they were about two steps away from a central divider, and the pair paused momentarily to talk.

Meanwhile, Sai was driving towards them along the same road in his housemate's car at a speed of about 60kmh even though the speed limit there was 50kmh.

He failed to keep a proper lookout and only noticed the two pedestrians when they were less than half a car length away.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Zu Zhao told District Judge Salina Ishak: "He was unable to stop his car in time and collided into both the deceased and the victim, who were crossing the road from his left to right.

"Both the deceased and the victim were flung forward into the air before landing on the road."

Eleanor and Ms Su Su Hlaing were taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, where the little girl died of multiple injuries at 7.46pm that day.

The maid, who survived, suffered injuries including fractures to her pelvis and right arm. She was warded until Oct 27 last year. ST understands that she no longer works with Eleanor's family.

DPP Lee urged the court on Thursday to sentence Sai to at least six weeks' jail and disqualify him from driving all classes of vehicles for five years. He stressed that the former condominium manager was speeding when he committed the offence.

Defence lawyer Choo Yean Lin pleaded for a short sentence not exceeding four weeks' jail.

She told Judge Salina that Sai is remorseful and had a clean driving record prior to the accident.

Sai is now out on bail of $10,000 and will surrender himself at the State Courts on Dec 17 to begin serving his sentence.

For causing a death by negligent driving, he could have been jailed for up to two years and fined.