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Hit-and-run lorry driver jailed and banned
A 63-year-old lorry driver was jailed for seven months and banned from driving for six years on Friday.
Published Nov 6, 2015, 4:03 pm SGT
Elena Chong
Court Correspondent
SINGAPORE - A 63-year-old lorry driver, who was involved in a hit-and-run accident, was jailed for seven months and banned from driving for six years on Friday .
Ramasamy Kannapraan had beaten a red light at the junction of Sungei Kadut Avenue and Sungei Kadut Street 1 on April 16, and his lorry hit a pedestrian who was using the signalised pedestrian crossing.
The pedestrian, Chinese national Liu Zhaolong, 38, suffered multiple fractures as a result.
Ramasamy pleaded guilty to causing grievous hurt; failing to stop after the accident and failing to help the pedestrian.
A fourth charge of moving his vehicle from the location was taken into consideration in sentencing.
The court heard that Ramasamy was driving along Sungei Kadut Street 1 when he beat the red traffic light at the junctionwith Sungei Kadut Avenue.
The lorry hit Mr Liu who was flung onto the centre of the road.
Ramasamy did not stop or help Mr Liu after the accident. He drove off instead.
A 25-year-old motorcyclist who saw the collision called the police and chased the lorry driver.
He caught up with Ramasamy, stopped him, and asked for his identification details.
After taking a picture of Ramasamy's driving licence, the motorcyclist told him to wait for the police to arrive.
But when the witness went back to the scene of accident to check on the victim, Ramasamy drove off.
Mr Liu was taken to hospital and was found to have multiple rib fractures. He was warded until May 9. He was given hospitalization leave till July.
Ramasamy, whose sentence was backdated to Oct 7, could have been jailed for up to four years and fined up to $10,000 for causing grievous hurt by acting rashly to endanger life.
For failing to stop, he could have been fined up to $1,000 or jailed for up to three months. The maximum penalty for not rendering assistance is a $3,000 fine or 12 months' jail.
