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Zouk’s former owner gets one-week jail term for drink-driving

SINGAPORE — The former owner of popular nightclub Zouk was handed a one-week jail sentence for drink-driving and barred from driving for three years by a district judge on Wednesday (Nov 22).

Former owner of nightclub Zouk Lincoln Cheng, was handed a one-week jail sentence for drink-driving and barred from driving for three years. Photo: Reuters

Former owner of nightclub Zouk Lincoln Cheng, was handed a one-week jail sentence for drink-driving and barred from driving for three years. Photo: Reuters

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SINGAPORE — The former owner of popular nightclub Zouk was handed a one-week jail sentence for drink-driving and barred from driving for three years by a district judge on Wednesday (Nov 22).

Lincoln Cheng, 70, who sold Zouk to casino and cruise operator Genting Hong Kong in 2015, is appealing against the sentence and is out on bail.

Another charge relating to dangerous driving was taken into consideration during sentencing.

The court heard that on Feb 15 this year, Cheng had two glasses of red wine at a dinner in Ion Orchard. Around midnight, as he was heading home, he drove in a dangerous manner along Eu Tong Sen Street towards the direction of Hill Street, beating two red lights in the process.

At around that time, taxi driver Sydney Baylon John, 71, was driving an SMRT taxi along Kreta Ayer Road. He was making a turn onto Eu Tong Sen Street when Cheng slammed his car into the left side of the taxi.

The collision caused the taxi driver to veer off course and mount a kerb along Eu Tong Sen Street before hitting a metal pole that supported a sheltered walkway.

A traffic police officer arrived at the scene later and found Cheng reeking of alcohol. He failed a breathalyser test, which showed that he had 43 microgrammes (mcg) of alcohol in every 100ml of breath — above the legal limit of 35mcg.

After the accident, the taxi driver experienced some pain in his left leg, but did not seek medical attention.

The front and rear left of the taxi were damaged, and SMRT reported that the estimated cost of repair amounted to close to S$21,000. Cheng made full restitution for the damages.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Star Chen Xinhui told the court that Cheng had caused slight to moderate harm, and reiterated that he drove recklessly, running two red lights.  

Defence lawyer Kesavan Nair told the court that his client “truly regrets” his actions and is remorseful. Pleading for leniency, he said that Cheng is a 70-year-old man who has medical conditions including insomnia and anxiety.

As this is his first offence for drink-driving, he could have been jailed up to six months or fined between S$1,000 and S$5,000.

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