Jail, 5-year driving ban for off-duty police officer who ran over 84-year-old pedestrian in fatal accident

• Norazlan Abdul Aziz was exiting a service road in September 2017 after leaving a multi-storey car park
• He failed to keep a proper lookout and collided with Lee Hwee Huak, who was crossing the road
• He then ran over her despite a passer-by’s efforts to warn him

SINGAPORE — While exiting a service road onto Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1 in 2017, Norazlan Abdul Aziz failed to keep a proper lookout and collided with a female pedestrian in her 80s who died as a result of the accident.

Norazlan, a police officer of more than 20 years who was not on duty at the time, was sentenced to two weeks’ jail on Friday (Oct 22).

He was also disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles from five years upon his release.

The 44-year-old Singaporean pleaded guilty to one count of causing the death of Lee Swee Huak, then aged 84, by a negligent act. He will begin serving his jail term on Monday.

The court heard that on Sept 21, 2017, Norazlan exited a multi-storey car park and drove along a single-lane, two-way undivided service road towards Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1.

The victim was walking along the pavement between the service road and the main road at the time.

The weather was fine and traffic flow was light.

According to a report issued by the Health Sciences Authority, while Norazlan was driving along the service road, the victim was “likely to be available to be seen intermittently” through the trees or poles.

The elderly woman then started crossing the exit — which was a non-signalised junction — connecting the service road and main road.

While the victim was likely visible to Norazlan at this point, he turned left without keeping a proper lookout.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Claire Poh told the court that Norazlan did not slow down or stop at the exit’s stop line. If he had stopped, he would have seen the pedestrian.

When she fell on the road in front of his car, he stopped for about three seconds before driving forward again, running over her.

A witness, who was standing across the road, tried to warn Norazlan after hearing a loud bang and seeing the elderly woman lying on the ground. His efforts fell on deaf ears as Norazalan continued on his way, driving over the woman’s body. 

A closed-circuit television camera located at the car park gantry along the service road captured footage of the accident, which was played in court.

The woman was taken to the National University Hospital, where she did not respond to resuscitation and succumbed to her injuries at around 6pm.

ACCIDENT CONTINUES TO HAUNT HIM: LAWYER

DPP Poh sought at least three weeks’ jail and a five-year driving ban, while Norazlan’s lawyer Patrick Fernandez asked for a high fine and a disqualification period of three years.

Mr Fernandez said in his mitigation plea that Norazlan was truly remorseful and deeply regretted the accident.

“This episode continues to haunt him and weighs heavily on his conscience,” said Mr Fernandez.

The defence counsel said that Norazlan had joined the Singapore Police Force in 1999 and rose to become an investigation officer.

In relation to the accident, Mr Fernandez said that even though Lee had the right of way, she should have exercised due care and caution to ensure her own safety, and not be oblivious to the traffic conditions ahead of her.

Mr Fernandez also argued that the court should give little weight to Norazlan’s previous traffic offences, which were all settled out of court.

He paid multiple composition fines of S$70 between 1999 and 2001 for parking on the footway of a road, as well as a composition fine of S$2,000 for beating a red light.

For causing death by a negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, Norazlan could have been jailed for up to two years or fined, or punished with both.