Teen e-scooter rider admits to injuring 12-year-old boy

A teenager failed to keep a proper lookout while riding an e-scooter in a basketball court and the device's handle struck a 12-year-old boy's face, causing injuries to his right cheek.

The victim, who cannot be named owing to his age, was also bleeding around one of his molars. The tooth had to be removed under topical anaesthesia.

Yesterday, Brendon Lim Chun Hsien, 19, pleaded guilty in a district court to causing hurt by riding the e-scooter in a rash manner.

Deputy Public Prosecutor M. Kayal Pillay said the child was at a training session at a basketball court near Block 838 Yishun Street 81 on March 28, 2018, when Lim decided to ride a friend's e-scooter in the area at around 6pm.

Lim was riding the device at around 20kmh when the handle struck the boy's face.

The victim's coach alerted the boy's mother, but Lim was no longer around by the time she arrived at the location.

He also failed to leave behind his contact number.

DPP Pillay told District Judge Samuel Chua: "The accused claimed that he left as he had to rush off for dinner with his friends."

The victim visited a dentist at around 7.30pm that day and his mother lodged a police report about 31/2 hours later.

The DPP said Lim returned to the incident location two days later and the victim's coach spotted him. Lim then provided his contact number upon request, the court heard.

The district judge has called for reports, including one to assess Lim's suitability for probation.

The teenager was offered bail of $5,000 yesterday and will be sentenced on April 14.

For causing hurt by riding an e-scooter in a rash manner, Lim can be jailed for up to a year and fined up to $5,000.

Shaffiq Alkhatib

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 18, 2020, with the headline Teen e-scooter rider admits to injuring 12-year-old boy. Subscribe