Public outcry over lenient sentence for driver in fatal hit-and-run case

SINGAPORE: A speeding Mercedes-Benz driver who caused a fatal accident and fled the scene was sentenced to a year’s jail on 18 December 2024.

Koh Chew Wa, 37, the director of an interior design firm, pleaded guilty to having caused the death of 26-year-old Davin Ng Min You by driving without due care and attention, failing to render assistance, and obstructing the course of justice.

The accident occurred around midnight on 29 October 2022, when Koh was driving his silver Mercedes-Benz along Church Street in Singapore.

Straits Times reported that the court heard Koh, accompanied by a friend in the front passenger seat, was heading towards a pub in Robinson Road.

At a signalised traffic junction where the light was in his favour, Koh failed to notice Ng, who was jaywalking across the road.

Ng, a pharmacist at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, attempted to run after spotting Koh’s car but was still struck, being flung several meters into the air.

Court footage revealed the severity of the impact.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Matthew Choo described the collision as throwing Ng “like a rag doll in the air,” before he crashed onto the road, lying lifeless.

Koh was driving between 70km/h and 97km/h, significantly exceeding the 50km/h speed limit.

Ng succumbed to a brain injury at Singapore General Hospital at 3:30 am the same day. He also suffered skull and leg fractures.

Instead of stopping to help, Koh continued driving, ignoring his friend’s pleas to stop.

He later parked his car at The URA Centre and took a private-hire vehicle to his friend’s home.

By noon, Koh arranged for his damaged car, which had a cracked windscreen, to be towed to a workshop for repairs in an attempt to conceal evidence.

Despite being advised by a workshop employee to lodge a police report, Koh falsely claimed he had already made one.

However, no repairs were carried out, and police later towed his car from the workshop.

Koh Sentenced to One Year for Fatal Hit-and-Run

DPP Choo described Koh’s actions as “cowardly” and “deplorable,” highlighting his failure to render aid and subsequent efforts to cover up the accident.

“His moment of carelessness carried extraordinary impacts that led to the untimely loss of a young life whose final moments were marked with much suffering,” said the prosecutor.

In addition to the one-year jail sentence, Koh was disqualified from driving for eight years after his release. Two other charges under the Road Traffic Act were taken into consideration during sentencing.

The court was informed that Koh had a prior offence for speeding in September 2022, just a month before the accident, for which he was fined $500 and received 12 demerit points.

In mitigation, Koh’s lawyer, Christopher Bridges, argued that his client had attempted to brake and that the victim, who was jaywalking, had miscalculated the distance between himself and the car.

A toxicology report showed Ng had a low blood alcohol level at the time of the accident.

While the prosecution acknowledged that the victim’s jaywalking reduced Koh’s culpability, it emphasised that his failure to assist and attempts to conceal evidence exacerbated the gravity of the case.

Public Backlash Over Lenient Sentence

The sentencing sparked widespread criticism on social media platforms, including The Straits Times Facebook page and HardwareZone forums. Hundreds of netizens expressed outrage at the perceived leniency, arguing that the punishment failed to reflect the gravity of Koh’s actions.

On The Straits Times Facebook page, one user questioned the fairness of the punishment, stating, “One year in jail for taking a human life in a hit-and-run and subsequently attempting to cover it up? Does cash outweigh justice?”

The user also questioned whether financial status had influenced the justice system, calling for a reconsideration of the case.

Another user argued that Koh should have received consecutive sentences for each charge, rather than concurrent ones.

They suggested that the driver’s car should be confiscated and stressed that a one-year sentence was insufficient for the loss of a life.

On HardwareZone, commentators echoed these sentiments.

One user condemned the driver’s lack of remorse, pointing to Koh’s efforts to conceal the crime and his refusal to assist the victim.

They remarked that without a good lawyer, Koh would likely have faced a much harsher penalty.

Another commenter emphasised that this was not a simple accident.

They highlighted Koh’s decision to flee the scene and avoid helping the victim, stating that this was an act of cruelty rather than a mere mistake.

Criticism of the Legal Framework

Many netizens expressed dissatisfaction with the broader legal framework in Singapore, criticising the leniency of the sentencing in this case.

A common sentiment among commenters was that the one-year sentence was disproportionate to the severity of the driver’s actions, particularly in a fatal hit-and-run incident.

One user commented that the prosecutor should do the right thing and asked for a higher sentence, stating that a one-year jail term for killing someone, failing to stop, not reporting the incident, and attempting to conceal evidence was too lenient and “not right.”

Many commenters argued that the victim’s jaywalking did not excuse the driver’s reckless behaviour, which included speeding, suspected drunk driving, fleeing the scene, and attempting to cover up the crime.

One user pointed out that if Koh had adhered to traffic rules or stopped to assist the victim, the accident might have been less severe, or his death could have been avoided altogether.

This commenter criticised the flawed reasoning that blamed the victim’s jaywalking, suggesting that such logic might inadvertently reward drivers who harm jaywalkers instead of holding them accountable.

Another user expanded on this view, pointing out the multiple offences committed by Koh.

They highlighted the fact that Koh not only knocked down a pedestrian but also fled the scene and tried to conceal the evidence by sending his car for repairs.

They criticized the one-year jail term, noting that, with a one-third remission for good behavior, Koh could be released in just eight months. Additionally, Koh could also qualify for electronic tagging, meaning he could be out even earlier.

They also remarked that the prosecutor’s condemnation of Koh’s actions as “deplorable” and “cowardly” appeared to be empty words, given the seemingly light sentence.

Calls for Stricter Penalties

Many netizens called for stricter penalties for those responsible for hit-and-run incidents involving fatalities.

One user voiced strong opinions, arguing that individuals who commit such crimes should be permanently banned from driving, even after serving their sentences.

The user further argued that reckless or aggressive driving behaviours, especially those involving alcohol, posed significant risks to public safety and warranted much harsher penalties.

Another user echoed these calls for stricter punishment, advocating for higher sentencing limits in cases of hit-and-run fatalities.

This commenter condemned the lenient sentencing as sending the wrong message to society and urged for harsher penalties to act as a deterrent for future incidents.