S'porean van driver, 51, on trial for attempted murder after running over Bangladeshi cyclist

A 51-year-old Singaporean man is on trial in court for allegedly attempting to murder a Bangladeshi man, Hossen Selim, by running him over with his van in 2023.

The latter suffered multiple serious injuries and fell into a coma as a result, and later died in February 2025 upon his return to Bangladesh.

According to court documents seen by Mothership, the Singaporean man, Toh Sze Kee, and Hossen were acquainted through their dealings in contraband cigarettes.

What happened

Court documents state that the victim was arrested in a raid by the Singapore Customs sometime in February 2023, while Toh evaded arrest.

However, Toh suspected that Hossen had implicated him, and the pair confronted each other at Kaki Bukit Avenue 5 on the morning of Mar. 16, 2023.

At about 5pm on that day, while driving his van, Toh made a u-turn on the road after seeing his accomplice on the other side of the lane on a bicycle, then collided with him from behind.

He also ran over the victim and failed to stop immediately, but drove a brief distance before stopping to inspect the front of his van.

The incident was captured on in-vehicle camera footage from a nearby tipper truck and a bus parked in the area.

Toh called a third man, telling him that he had knocked down a Bangladeshi man but accused the victim of suddenly cycling into his path.

Toh and the third man subsequently met at an abandoned warehouse at Defu Lane 12 to dispose of contraband cigarettes in the van, before Toh abandoned the van along the road outside the warehouse.

He also reiterated his version of events to a female friend, who informed him that the police were looking for him.

Speaking to the female friend, he claimed that the victim had made a sudden turn such that he could not brake in time.

Victim's injuries and death

Hossen was conveyed to Changi General Hospital following the collision.

He sustained serious injuries that were deemed "sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death", according to court documents.

Following multiple surgeries, he fell into a coma and was later repatriated to Bangladesh on Jun. 17, 2024.

He died on Feb. 12, 2025. The cause of death was not reported in court documents.

Trial

Toh underwent a psychiatric evaluation and was found to have a background of substance use disorder and antisocial personality disorder, but did not otherwise suffer from a major psychiatric condition, the psychiatrist said.

It was also concluded that he was not impaired in his capacity for self-control and restraint, or awareness or understanding of his actions.

Toh did not meet the requirement for stimulant withdrawal on the day of the incident, and was said to be unlikely to have fallen asleep at the wheel from fatigue despite abusing methamphetamine on that day.

If found guilty of attempted murder, he could be jailed for life, or up to 20 years and fined.

He continues to stand trial.

Top images via Shin Min Daily News & Canva