Feb. 6 Chinatown fatal accident: Woman, 38, charged over death of girl, 6, gag order issued

A 38-year-old woman was charged in court on Apr. 8 with driving without due care and attention, causing the death of the girl, following a fatal accident in Chinatown on Feb. 6.

The incident also resulted in serious injuries sustained by the girl's 31-year-old mother.

The accused also faces a charge of driving without due care and attention, causing grievous hurt to the woman.

Bail was set at S$25,000.

The defence asked for a gag order based on Section 112 of the Children and Young Persons Act. This is because the accused's son is a potential witness, and his identity will have to be protected.

The gag order will be extended to the mother as well.

The defence further said that publishing the information, which they are asking to be protected, will subject the child to unwanted scrutiny and cause him greater trauma.

They also cited the "vitriolic posts" made against the accused and the child, which they said were untrue and xenophobic in nature.

A gag order imposed by the court prevents the publication of anything that might identify the accused and her son, including their photographs and car plate number.

The gag order also covers the "name, address, photograph or any evidence or any other thing which is contained in any court document intended to be produced before the court, is to be removed or sufficiently redacted, which is likely to lead to the identification".

What happened

The police were alerted to the accident at about 11:50am that day, which involved a car and two female pedestrians.

They were conveyed to the hospital, where the girl subsequently passed away.

The girl's mother was seriously injured and was admitted to the intensive care unit, it was previously reported.

The vehicle driven by the accused struck the two victims at South Bridge Road.

The car was seen stationary along Spring Street following the accident near the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.

Background

According to previous reports, the deceased, Sheyna Lashira Smaradiani, was in Singapore on a holiday with her parents and her two-year-old brother.

The family is from Indonesia.

The girl and her mother were crossing the road along South Bridge Road when they were struck by a car.

Her remains were repatriated to Indonesia on Feb. 8 morning.

The girl was buried later that day in South Jakarta.

Her mother, Raisha Anindra Pascasiswi, has since been discharged.

The driver was arrested for driving without reasonable consideration, causing death, the police said at the time.

Penalties

Those who drive without due care and attention, causing death, can be jailed for up to three years, fined up to S$10,000, or both.

If convicted of driving without due care and attention, causing grievous hurt, an offender can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to S$5,000, or both.

Those found guilty also face a driving disqualification from all classes of vehicles.

Top photo from Mothership