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Fatal AYE crash: Man gets jail, 12-year ban after driving against traffic at high speed

SINGAPORE — A former businessman whose wild driving caused the death of another man and seriously injured four others was jailed a year and disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for 12 years after his release.

While suffering from acute psychosis in December 2016, Lim Chai Heng (pictured) embarked on a wild driving spree with his son from their Hougang home to Tuas Checkpoint.

While suffering from acute psychosis in December 2016, Lim Chai Heng (pictured) embarked on a wild driving spree with his son from their Hougang home to Tuas Checkpoint.

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SINGAPORE — A former businessman whose wild driving caused the death of another man and seriously injured four others was jailed a year and disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for 12 years after his release.

Lim Chai Heng, 58, a former printing shop owner, was sentenced on Monday (Nov 25) and the prosecution is considering whether to file an appeal against it.

While suffering from acute psychosis in December 2016, Lim had embarked on a wild driving spree with his son from their Hougang home to Tuas Checkpoint.

He had intended to take his son to his new workplace along Depot Road, but after leaving the checkpoint, he drove against the flow of traffic on the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) at high speed for almost 2km.

Lim ended up killing actor Liong Kuo Hwa, also known as Jackie Liong, in a head-on collision and seriously injuring four others, including Liong’s wife.

He pleaded guilty last month to causing Liong’s death by a rash act not amounting to culpable homicide, with another four charges of causing hurt and grievous hurt taken into consideration for sentencing.

In his 46-page-long judgment, Judicial Commissioner Vincent Hoong described it as a “perplexing and troubling” case.

Psychiatrists found that Lim’s mental illness had significantly impaired his judgement and led him to discount the risks associated with his actions. 

However, he was not of unsound mind and was aware of what he was doing.

JUDGE'S DECISION

Judicial Commissioner Hoong noted that Lim's family members spoke about his “erratic behaviour” before the incident, and referred to a report from Institute of Mental Health psychiatrist Jerome Goh, who examined Lim four times and interviewed his relatives after the accident.

Lim had told Dr Goh that when he “saw cars and motorcycles come towards him”, “I knew finished already” and “if not others hit me, I would hit others”.

Prosecutors pressed for at least two years’ jail and a 12-year driving ban, taking into account Lim’s mental condition, while his lawyer Yusfiyanto Yatiman asked for a shorter sentence of five to seven months’ jail and an eight-year ban.

The judge said that there was “no evidence to suggest that (Lim’s) rash act was premeditated or formulated out of conscious choice, in response to his feelings of jealousy, envy, hatred or anger”.

“Here, it is undoubted that the accused person’s mental disorder seriously inhibited his ability to make proper choices at the time of the offence,” the judge added.

Dr Goh reported that Lim has since complied with treatment and his symptoms “have resolved within a short period”.

While the prosecution argued that Lim had appeared to be fully in control of his car, Judicial Commissioner Hoong said that his actions were irrational when considering that he felt compelled by “God” to drive like that.

Having said that, the judge still found that Lim had caused “plainly exceptional” harm. He had also been aware that a collision would happen soon, and asked his son to call his wife after the accident.

Judicial Commissioner Hoong urged Lim to continue seeking psychiatric treatment, which could prevent a recurrence of his condition and to protect those around him.

EVENTS LEADING TO COLLISIONS

On the morning of Dec 19, 2016, Lim left home with his son and drove his Mercedes for some time along the Central Expressway (CTE) towards AYE.

When the son, whose age is not known, asked his father why he did not exit at Braddell Road to avoid paying Electronic Road Pricing fees, he replied: “Do not be afraid, I know the way.”

However, Lim did not get out of the CTE at the Jalan Bukit Merah exit, which was closest to their destination. 

He continued driving on to the AYE, and refused to listen to his son’s repeated requests to exit at various points along the way, claiming that his son did not trust him.

After passing 14 exits for about 23km, he reached the end of the expressway at Tuas Checkpoint.

The court previously heard that when Lim drove to Tuas Checkpoint, he went onto the motorcycle lane until he was forced to stop. He told his son that he believed he could pass through but did not move for about two minutes.

He then reversed his car, carefully made a three-point turn and drove back against the flow of traffic on the motorcycle lane.

After merging into the car lane and continuing on the viaduct leading to the AYE, two other vehicles narrowly avoided him. Lim braked once in response to oncoming traffic.

When he entered the AYE, he accelerated to up to 147km/h and continued driving against traffic. 

Another driver, Mr Tan Han Boon, then 34, swerved to avoid colliding into him and crashed his Mazda into a bus before hitting the concrete wall of the expressway. He suffered superficial abrasions.

Liong, then 37 and driving a Toyota Vios directly behind Mr Tan, was the next to collide into Lim’s car and slammed into the wall as well.

After this, Lim collided head-on with a scooter which Mr Teh Tze Yong was riding with his wife as a pillion rider. The couple, both aged 34 then, were flung off the scooter and Lim's car finally came to a halt.

Liong was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained in the accident. His wife, Ms Venny Oliver, then 37, suffered jaw and rib fractures and was given almost two months of hospitalisation leave.

Mr Teh and Ms Choo Yat Chiam — both Malaysians — went through surgery for several fractures. Mr Teh’s right ring finger was amputated.

Mr Teh and Ms Choo received a S$530,000 settlement from Lim last year after suing him for negligence.

Mr Teh’s scooter, Mr Tan’s car and Lim’s car were scrapped.

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