Man, 19, in SLE motorbike chase that killed LTA officer, gets 2 years 3 months jail & 6 strokes of cane

A 19-year-old man was sentenced on Jan. 23 to two years and three months in jail and six strokes of the cane for his involvement in a motorcycle chase that led to a Land Transport Authority (LTA) officer getting killed while on duty.

He was also banned from driving for five years after his release.

As the accused was under 18 when he committed one of his offences, he cannot be named under the Children and Young Persons Act.

He previously pleaded guilty to six charges.

They included driving in a dangerous manner, riding a motorcycle without a valid licence, possessing and consuming drugs, possessing a scheduled weapon, and disclosing his SingPass credentials for an unlawful purpose.

What happened

On Jun. 4, 2024, the teen was riding a motorcycle along the Seletar Expressway.

He was spotted by the late LTA officer Zdulfika Ahakasah.

The teen did not have permission to ride the motorcycle, which belonged to his cousin.

The teen was entrusted with the vehicle, which was to be repaired.

Zdulfika noticed that the teen's helmet had a tinted visor and the motorcycle did not have side mirrors.

Zdulfika signalled for the teen to stop along the road shoulder for checks.

The teen was already wanted by the police at the time for absconding in October 2023.

He was scheduled to be sent to a community rehabilitation centre for drug-related issues.

The teen, who knew he was wanted, began to accelerate to try to lose the LTA officer and escape arrest.

He cut across two lanes from the road shoulder, and across the chevron marking of the expressway divider.

Zdulfika crashed into the road divider while in pursuit.

He was thrown off his motorcycle and subsequently died in hospital.

The late LTA officer was supposed to get married a month later.

The prosecutor said previously that the teen showed "utter lack of remorse" by not calling for an ambulance after knowing the LTA officer had crashed.

The prosecutor also said the teen tried to "deflect blame" when he was first charged in court on Jun. 6, 2024, and was a persistent offender who had "chosen to commit serious crimes over and over again", CNA reported.

The teen had said at the time: "I gambled my life as much as he gambled his. So the death... I may be one of the contributing factors to the death, but I am not to be blamed."

The prosecutor had sought between two years and three-and-a-half months and two years and five-and-a-half months in jail, six strokes of the cane, and a five-year ban from driving.

The defence lawyer also argued that the teen had potential for rehabilitation, with strong support from family members.

Top photo via Telegram