S'porean driver linked to 73 traffic 'accidents', mostly staged to get cash payouts, jailed 32 weeks & fined S$6,000

A Singaporean man staged traffic accidents to get cash settlements from innocent counterparty drivers to fund his luxurious lifestyle.

28-year-old Danial Ali Liaqat Ali was associated with at least 73 road traffic accidents, most of which were staged from September 2019 to January 2024.

On Jun. 5, he was sentenced to 32 weeks' jail and fined S$6,000 after pleading guilty to 12 charges, according to The Straits Times (ST).

For 48 months after his release from prison, he will also be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver's license.

During sentencing, another 25 charges were taken into consideration.

Engineered near collisions

According to court documents seen by Mothership, Danial would identify opportunities to engineer a near collision or an actual collision with another vehicle.

Typically, this would be done by driving dangerously close, failing to brake, or deliberately accelerating into other vehicles to cause side-swipe collisions.

After each staged incident, he would approach other drivers, falsely represent that a genuine accident had occurred, and demand private cash settlements.

The settlements from drivers ranged from S$180 to S$1,500.

Court documents stated that he devised this scheme to sustain a lifestyle that was disproportionate to his less than S$4,000 monthly salary.

Faked accidents

Using the same modus operandi, Danial faked accidents and demanded settlements.

On Jul. 19, 2023, at about 11am, Danial drove dangerously close to a victim's car before both cars stopped at the road traffic junction of Cantonment Road and Keppel Road.

Danial, who was in the right lane, left a larger space in front of his car.

While the victim was filtering into the space in front of his car, Danial drove his car forward and claimed that a collision had taken place.

Danial deceived the victim into believing a genuine collision took place, and he demanded a private settlement for the alleged damages.

The victim handed over S$180.

He repeated the scheme on Jul. 20, 2023, and Dec. 5, 2023, and induced other victims to hand over S$300 and S$400, respectively.

Broken side mirror

On Nov. 5, 2023, along Geylang Road, Danial tried to overtake a vehicle that was changing lanes.

He drove behind the car and attempted to overtake the victim, who slowed down.

The victim's car collided with Danial's side mirror, breaking it.

Danial lied and said that the victim was the cause of the accident and dishonestly induced the victim to hand him S$300.

According to court documents, Danial also failed to report 29 other accidents that happened between Mar. 31, 2023, and Jan. 2, 2024, to the police.

Cheated employer

While working at Cedele as an assistant outlet manager, he created his own membership account and keyed in his own contact number to collect points from customers' purchases.

From Oct. 18 to Oct. 27, 2025, he accumulated 70,000 membership points and redeemed a S$100 voucher from Cedele.

On Oct. 31, 2025, he received S$100.50 in cash from a paying customer, placed S$0.50 in the cash counter, and misappropriated the other S$100 for his own use.

On Feb. 12, 2026, his bail was revoked, and he was remanded.

In the prosecution's address on sentence, the deputy public prosecutor (DPP) noted several aggravating factors, including the sheer danger he posed to vehicles on the road, his premeditation, and persistence.

The DPP said, "The accused was in essence turning the road into a private minefield."

"It was fortuitous that none of the drivers fell to any serious or fatal injury."

According to ST, Danial said he was remorseful in mitigation.

Court documents did not state the total amount he had received from the fake accidents and if he made any restitution to the victims he swindled.