Probation for 2 youths who beat red light at 30km/h while riding e-scooters on road

SINGAPORE — Two teenagers were illegally riding their electric scooters on the road one evening, speeding at 30km/h, when one of them collided into another e-scooter rider at a pedestrian crossing.

The victim, Mr Cheah Thie How, 28, had been riding across the road as the green man was in his favour. He ended up suffering a toe fracture, while the two teenagers fled the scene.

Muhammad Raziq Mohamad and Mohamed Erzan Taib Zohri, both 19, were sentenced to probation on Tuesday (Nov 5) for their actions on March 16 this year.

Raziq, who had crashed into Mr Cheah, was given 18 months’ probation and ordered to perform 150 hours of community service. He was also put on the electronic monitoring scheme for six months or until he enlists in National Service.

He had pleaded guilty in September to causing grievous hurt by a rash act.

Erzan was sentenced to 15 months’ probation and has to perform 100 hours of community service. The full-time national serviceman had admitted to committing a rash act that endangered the personal safety of others.

Both teenagers had also pleaded guilty to two charges of riding their e-scooters on the road and riding an unregistered vehicle on the road.

Their parents posted bonds of S$5,000 to ensure their good behaviour. They also have to remain indoors from 10pm to 6am as part of their probation conditions.

The court previously heard that Raziq and Erzan were riding their e-scooters to Pasir Ris, where they were intending to play a game of sepak takraw that evening in March.

Raziq was travelling from Hougang, while Erzan rode his e-scooter from Rivervale Walk in Sengkang with his girlfriend as his pillion rider.

At about 8.20pm, they arrived separately at Pasir Ris Drive 1 and rode towards Loyang Avenue.

As Raziq approached a pedestrian crossing, he noticed that the traffic light was red but did not slow down. The light had been red for 25 seconds but he sped through at 30 km/h.

He then crashed into Mr Cheah, who was flung to the ground from the impact.

Incidentally, Erzan was riding close behind at about 30 km/h as well. He similarly beat the red light and saw the collision but did not stop to help.

He said that he did not like to travel at a slow speed and could not stop before reaching the traffic lights as his brakes were not in good condition.

Both Raziq and Erzan also knew it was illegal to ride on the road but did so because they thought the pavement was crowded with pedestrians.

After the collision, Raziq got up and went to the side of the road to check on the damage to his e-scooter. However, he did not give Mr Cheah his particulars and fled the scene to a nearby block of flats, where he met Erzan and his girlfriend.

The driver of a car who had stopped at the red light went after them, telling Raziq not to run away and that he had video footage of the accident.

The two teenagers, along with Erzan’s girlfriend, ran away instead.

The next evening, Raziq surrendered himself at Hougang Neighbourhood Police Centre. He also told police officers that Erzan was at the scene of the collision.

Mr Cheah was taken to Sengkang General Hospital in an ambulance after the accident. He was given 14 days of hospitalisation leave, and had to be on light work duty for more than a month afterwards.

Raziq’s and Erzan’s e-scooters were seized and sent to the Land Transport Authority for inspection. They were found to have exceeded the weight and size restrictions.

E-scooters here must not exceed 20kg in weight or 70cm in width. Court documents did not state how heavy or wide the duo’s e-scooters were.