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Drug trafficker jailed for dragging traffic police officer for 40m with car, causing ankle fracture

SINGAPORE — When a traffic police officer stopped Azhar Amin in his car along Geylang Road, the repeat drug offender gave a fake name and National Registration Identity Card number.

Azhar Amin, 37, stepped on the accelerator while a traffic police officer was trying to pull him out of his car along Geylang Road.

Azhar Amin, 37, stepped on the accelerator while a traffic police officer was trying to pull him out of his car along Geylang Road.

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  • Azhar Amin had failed to report for urine tests 21 times
  • A traffic policeman stopped him for using his mobile phone while driving
  • Azhar gave fake particulars before driving off while the officer tried to pull him out of his car
  • He was arrested the next day at a Pasir Ris chalet

 

SINGAPORE — When a traffic police officer stopped Azhar Amin in his car along Geylang Road, the repeat drug offender gave a fake name and National Registration Identity Card number.

When the policeman and a female passerby then tried to pull him out of the vehicle, Azhar stepped on the accelerator, dragging the uniformed officer about 30 to 40m along the road before driving off to Toa Payoh.

Azhar was wanted at the time for failing to report for urine tests while under a supervision order for drug offences.

On Thursday (Jan 21), the 37-year-old Singaporean was sentenced to 10 years and one month behind bars and 10 strokes of the cane for his offences. He was also banned from driving for three years after he is released from prison.

He was convicted of eight drug-related charges, including trafficking 114.67g of methamphetamine, and one count each of committing a rash act causing grievous hurt and giving false information.

District Judge Carol Ling considered another four similar charges for sentencing.

Azhar’s criminal record stretches back to 1998, ranging from theft to drug consumption, Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Wei Liang told the court.

As for Azhar's latest offences, he was first arrested on March 23, 2018 when he went to return his friend’s rented vehicle. The owner was unhappy that the hirer had not turned up and called the police.

A police officer who responded to the call noticed Azhar was slurring his words, agitated and nervous. The officer then found methamphetamine and MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) — both controlled drugs — on him.

At the time, he was under a two-year supervision order that began in December 2016. However, he failed to turn up for urine tests at Tanglin Police Division headquarters on 21 occasions due to his drug activities.

Several months later on Nov 12, 2018, a traffic police officer stopped Azhar as he was driving along Geylang Road towards Kallang Road in a blue Subaru.

Azhar had been holding a mobile phone while steering with his other hand.

Staff Sergeant Noor Hakim Mohamed directed him to stop his car and get out, but he replied that he did not have any identification documents with him.

The officer told him to move to the backseat, and Azhar gave him the name and address of another man.

After Staff Sergeant Hakim screened the false particulars, Azhar heard him calling for reinforcements and proceeded to squeeze himself in between the two front seats. He also tried to start the car engine with the keys that were still in the ignition.

Staff Sergeant Hakim and a passerby then tried to stop him by pulling him out of the car.

However, Azhar managed to step on the accelerator and drive off. Staff Sergeant Hakim, who was still partially in the car and holding onto Azhar, was dragged along the road before being flung off.

He was eventually diagnosed in Khoo Teck Puat Hospital with a right ankle fracture and given two weeks of hospitalisation leave.

Central Narcotics Bureau officers arrested Azhar the next day at the Cherryloft Resorts and Hotels, a chalet located in Pasir Ris close to Downtown East. He had multiple packets of drugs and paraphernalia on him.

For drug trafficking, he could have been jailed for up to 20 years and given 15 strokes of the cane. 

For committing a rash act causing grievous hurt, he could have been jailed for up to four years or fined up to S$10,000, or both.

Related topics

crime court drug trafficking rash act grevious hurt

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