S'porean man, 40, found guilty of dragging ICA officer with car after not stopping for fuel tank check

A Singaporean man, who drove off and dragged an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer after refusing to stop for a fuel tank check, has been found guilty.

Steve Ling Wei Liang was convicted of a rash act endangering human life on Jan. 30, CNA reported.

The District Judge found that Ling had acted rashly by stepping on the accelerator, while the ICA officer was still partially in Ling's car.

Ling also acted without regard for the safety or life of the officer, CNA added.

Ling will be sentenced in March 2026 and could face up to a year's imprisonment, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.

Only a quarter full

On Dec. 12, 2024, ICA officer Tan Yi Loong asked Ling to produce his passport during a check.

However, Ling allegedly drove off with Tan still partially caught in the car window, injuring him.

According to court documents seen by Mothership, Ling went on trial on Nov. 10, 2025, for one count of causing hurt to Tan by accelerating while the officer was partially inside the vehicle.

Tan suffered a right knee contusion as a result of being dragged along.

Responsible for fuel gauge checks

Tan, who joined ICA in 2020, was at Woodlands Checkpoint that Tuesday as a first response team officer and was the deputy team leader that day.

His responsibilities included fuel gauge checks and handling security-related incidents.

He explained that during fuel gauge operations, his team would narrow traffic to a single lane, slow vehicles, and ask drivers to roll down their windows to inspect the fuel gauges.

Vehicles leaving Singapore must have their fuel tanks at least three-quarters full.

Ling's vehicle was found to have only a quarter tank of fuel.

Getting dragged while body was in car

When asked by the prosecution how his shift ended that day, Tan said "it ended with [him] going to the hospital", adding that it was "a result of [him] being dragged by the car".

Footage of the incident played in court showed Tan conducting a check on a red car.

When asked if he remembered the car, Tan said he did: "It dragged me before. So I remember."

Tan recalled that Ling refused to comply when asked to produce his passport, saying: "Sir, give me chance ah, I cannot go court".

Driver and officer looked at each other as car moved

He testified that as Ling was speaking, he began to inch the car forward despite being told to stop.

The footage then showed the red car suddenly lurching forward towards the right while Tan was still caught in the window.

Another officer was seen moving in to assist.

Tan said that when the car moved, he grabbed the steering wheel to regain his balance.

"I remember when he moved the car, he was looking at me and I was looking at him," Tan said. "While grabbing onto the steering wheel with my right hand and my left hand grab onto him. So we were both in shock."

"It felt like forever," he added. "Nobody gets dragged — this is not normal, right?"

Tan said he was relieved when the car finally stopped.

Photos via Google Maps and Shin Min Daily News