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May 20, 2011
Japanese national fined over fatal accident
By Elena Chong, Court Correspondent
A JAPANESE financial controller was fined $6,000 and banned from driving for five years for causing the death of a motorcyclist in a road traffic accident.
Goto Shobun, 37, pleaded guilty to negligently causing the death of Mr Ting Ee Boey, 50, while making a right turn from Lornie Road into Thomson Road on Aug 23, 2009.
The court heard that he had failed to keep a proper lookout at the signalised cross-junction and encroached into the path of the motorcyclist who was proceeding straight from the opposite direction. Mr Ting died about 14 hours later of head injuries.
Shobun's lawyer told the court in mitigation that the accident occurred as a result of a momentary lapse of concentration.
He said his client, who has a law degree in Japan, has a spotless driving record, and is due to be posted out by end-month.
Shobun could have been jailed for up to two years or fined or jailed and fined for causing death by doing a negligent act.
