A businessman was charged in court on Thursday over a hit-and-run accident along East Coast Parkway which claimed the life of one and injured four others in a lorry.

Chua Cheng Giak, 38, faces a total of six charges. He is accused of causing the death of a rear seat passenger in the lorry, Mr Md Hazrat Ali Md Maser Ali, 36, by a rash act along the ECP at 2.24am on May 23 last year.

Court documents say that he was driving his car at an excessive speed when he rammed into the lorry.

This caused the lorry to veer to its left, hit a guard railing and a lamp post, then mount over the left guard railing. The rear passenger was thrown out as a result.

Chua is also accused of causing grievous hurt to a front-seat passenger and causing hurt to two other passengers and the driver of the lorry by doing a rash act to endanger life. He was also charged with drink driving; failing to render help, and failing to stop after the accident.

His police bail of $15,000 has been extended.

Chua is represented by Mr Pascal B. Netto, who sought an adjournment to make representations and apply for papers from the Traffic Police. The case will be mentioned on March 7.