Man jailed, fined S$30,000, caned for crashing his PMD into motorcyclist on road, other offences

• Itto Wong, 26, pleaded guilty to four charges including causing grievous hurt by a negligent act
• He crashed into a motorcyclist while riding his electric scooter on the road illegally
• Wong also committed offences related to moneylending
• He was sentenced to one year and 11 weeks’ jail, fined S$30,000 and given three strokes of the cane

SINGAPORE — While riding his electric scooter on the road illegally, Itto Wong collided into a motorcyclist. After he was charged, he went on to commit unlicensed moneylending offences.

He also misappropriated S$1,300 within one-and-a-half months while working as a delivery man.

For his offences, he was sentenced on Wednesday (Sept 15) to a total of one year and 11 weeks’ jail, a S$30,000 fine and three strokes of the cane.

He was jailed three weeks for the personal mobility device (PMD) offence.

The Singaporean, aged 26, pleaded guilty to four charges that included criminal breach of trust and causing grievous hurt by a negligent act. Six other similar charges were taken into consideration for sentencing.

The court heard that on Nov 29, 2018, Wong was riding his PMD on the left lane of Woodlands Loop. He knew it was illegal to ride on the road.

Motorcyclist Sa’at Rohimin, 55, and his 26-year-old daughter, who was a pillion passenger, were riding on the right lane in the same direction. The weather was fine and traffic flow was light at the time.

Wong then tried to cross from the left lane to the opposite side of the road to get to his workplace. While doing so, he failed to keep a proper lookout and encroached onto Mr Sa’at’s path, colliding into the pair.

Mr Sa’at lost control and fell to the ground with his daughter.

All three were taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. Mr Sa’at suffered a collapsed lung and fractures to his rib and collarbone, among other injuries.

He was warded for four days and given 34 days of medical leave, as well as 14 days of light duty. His total medical expenses amounted to S$2,022.

His daughter also suffered bruises and cuts. She was given seven days’ medical leave and her medical bill came up to S$262.

Wong, who sustained a head injury, was warded for a day and given seven days of medical leave.

OTHER CRIMES

He was hauled to court and was expected to plead guilty. However, in January last year, he began borrowing money from loan sharks because he felt he was not earning enough, and ended up owing them more than S$2,000.

A few months later, one of the unlicensed moneylenders suggested that he could pay off his loans by making bank transfers and harass other borrowers by splashing paint.

Wong agreed after the loan shark threatened to harass him if he did not help.

On Oct 5 last year, acting on the other man’s instructions, Wong bought a can of coffee and poured it on the front door and gate of a flat in Punggol.

That same day, his supervisor at CM Logistics made a police report against him, saying he had failed to hand in cash that he had collected from customers after delivering packages to them. The supervisor added that he had promised to return the money but failed.

Wong had worked for CM Logistics since January that year, and was meant to give the cash-on-delivery to a representative. However, he pocketed S$1,300 over eight occasions.

A merchant then highlighted the discrepancies and Wong was given the chance to repay the money, but failed to do so.

CM Logistics had to pay the shortfall owed to the merchant after Wong did not make restitution.

For criminal breach of trust, he could have been jailed for up to seven years or fined, or punished with both.

For causing grievous hurt by a negligent act, he could have been jailed for up to two years or fined up to S$5,000, or both.