SINGAPORE — A cement truck driver who killed two brothers in an accident has been sentenced to two weeks’ jail and banned from driving all vehicles for five years.

Munir Mohd Naim, 57, pleaded guilty yesterday to a charge of negligent act that does not amount to culpable homicide.

Munir was driving a cement mixer on Jan 28 last year at about 5.43pm when the accident occurred. While making a left turn from Tampines Avenue 9 into Tampines Street 45, he failed to keep a proper lookout and drove into Nigel Yap, 13, and his brother, Donavan Yap, seven, who were cycling along Tampines Street 45. The boys died in the accident.

The prosecution said Munir did not stop to check before he made the left turn and added that the pedestrian traffic light had already turned green, which meant the brothers had the right of way.

Citing previous sentencing precedents, the prosecution sought a two-week jail term and to disqualify Munir from driving for five years as the accused was “grossly negligent”.

In his defence, Munir’s lawyer said the driver was “sincerely contrite” and had accepted responsibility for his actions.

The court also heard that Munir fell to his knees crying when he found out that the boys were dead.

The defence added that the case served as a cautionary tale — that cyclists should get off their bicycles at pedestrian crossings and that greater awareness was needed.

During sentencing, District Judge Tan Boon Heng stressed that motorists, especially those driving heavy vehicles, must exercise greater care.

Judge Tan also noted that the accident took place in a school zone where the driver should have kept a sharper lookout.

For his negligent act, Munir could have been jailed for up to two years and fined. CLAIRE HUANG