A Singapore driver who ran a red light at more than 129kmh and caused a fatal chain collision in Tampines has been sentenced to 12 years and nine months in prison and banned from driving for life.
Muhammad Syafie Ismail, 45, was sentenced at the State Courts on Monday, 5 October, following the April 2024 collision that killed two people and injured eight others.
The sentence is among the longest imposed in Singapore for a fatal traffic incident in recent years.
Principal District Judge Toh Han Li said the circumstances of the case warranted the maximum sentence for the charge of dangerous driving causing death, citing the seriousness of Syafie’s conduct and the lasting impact on victims and their families.
Driver Entered Junction at More Than 129kmh
Citing CNA, the collision took place at around 7am on 22 April 2024 at the junction of Bedok Reservoir Road, Tampines Avenue 1 and Tampines Avenue 4.
Syafie had been driving through the area during the morning peak after dropping off a GrabHitch passenger.
According to the prosecution’s case, he had earlier overtaken another vehicle before swerving between lanes along Bedok Reservoir Road. He narrowly missed a motorcyclist and subsequently side-swiped the vehicle he had overtaken.
He then approached the junction while the traffic light had already been red for at least 26 seconds.
Syafie entered the junction at an estimated speed of between 129kmh and 134kmh, despite the road’s 50kmh speed limit.
His vehicle collided with three other vehicles, setting off a chain collision involving six vehicles in total.
Two People Were Killed in the Crash
The collision claimed the lives of a 17-year-old student and 57-year-old Norzihan Juwahib.
The student’s identity remains protected under a court-imposed gag order.
Norzihan was travelling in the back of a van and was seated on a sofa without a seatbelt when the collision occurred.
Three other people suffered grievous injuries, while another five victims, including children, were injured.
The consequences extended well beyond the physical injuries sustained in the crash.
The student’s mother developed major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder following her daughter’s death.
Another victim developed PTSD and had to move into a less demanding role at work while recovering and attending physiotherapy.
Judge Toh said there were multiple victims in the case and noted that the student’s mother had suffered greatly. Other victims also continued to experience emotional trauma linked to the deaths and injuries.
The collision was severe enough to disrupt normal traffic flow for around 10 hours.
Damage to a lamppost and green railing was estimated at approximately S$1,317. Five vehicles also suffered severe damage, although the full cost had not been quantified as victims were pursuing separate insurance claims.
Court Limits Guilty Plea Discount
Syafie pleaded guilty to three charges: dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing grievous hurt and dangerous driving causing hurt. Other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.
Under sentencing guidelines, he could have received a 30 per cent reduction for pleading guilty.
However, Judge Toh decided that only a 15 per cent reduction was appropriate given the seriousness of the case.
The judge said there was still value in avoiding a trial, which would have required multiple witnesses to testify and potentially relive the trauma of the collision.
Judge Toh also ordered three of Syafie’s sentences to run consecutively rather than two. He said this was necessary in the public interest and because the overall criminality of the conduct could not be adequately reflected by only two consecutive sentences.
The prosecution had sought between 12 years and nine months and 13 years and six months in prison.
The defence had asked for a sentence of between seven years and six months and eight years, describing the circumstances surrounding the crash as unusual and exceptional.
Both sides agreed that Syafie should receive a lifetime driving ban.
Driver Expresses Remorse
In a letter submitted to the court, Syafie said he was deeply sorry for the pain, grief and loss caused to the victims and their families.
He said the tragedy had changed his life permanently and that he intended to carry its lessons with him for the rest of his life.
Syafie had been supporting his parents and children while also paying maintenance to his former wife.
He had also worked as a Quranic teacher with the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore after qualifying in 2019. He was suspended from teaching in late 2024 following the court proceedings.
His lawyer, Kalaithasan Karuppaya, told the court that Syafie was “ridden with guilt” over what had happened.
What the Charges Carry
Dangerous driving causing death carries a possible prison sentence of between two and eight years, together with a driving disqualification of up to 10 years.
Dangerous driving causing grievous hurt carries a possible prison sentence of between one and five years and a driving disqualification of up to eight years.
Dangerous driving causing hurt carries a possible prison sentence of up to two years, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both.
In Syafie’s case, the court imposed a total sentence of 12 years and nine months and ordered that he never drive again.
The case has also brought renewed attention to the consequences of dangerous driving, particularly when excessive speed and disregard for traffic signals place other road users at risk.
For the victims and their families, however, the consequences extend far beyond the courtroom. The physical injuries, psychological trauma and loss caused by the collision will continue long after the sentence has been served.
