S’porean man, 51, fatally ran over Bangladeshi man, 32, with van after suspecting victim told authorities about his crime

A 51-year-old Singaporean man fatally ran over his 32-year-old Bangladeshi acquaintance, with whom he had dealt contraband cigarettes.

This was after the Singaporean man believed that he had been implicated following a raid by the Singapore Customs.

The foreigner later died from his injuries after he was repatriated to Bangladesh.

Toh Sze Ee pleaded guilty to using a dangerous weapon to cause grievous hurt on Jun. 29, The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao reported.

Acquaintances

Toh and the victim, Hossen Selim, were acquainted through dealing with contraband cigarettes.

In February 2023, Selim was arrested during a raid by Singapore Customs.

Toh managed to evade arrest.

He reportedly suspected that Selim had provided information to the authorities that implicated him.

He then arranged to meet Selim to confront him.

Confrontation

On Mar. 16, 2023, at about 5pm, Toh drove a rented van along Kaki Bukit Avenue 5, towards Kaki Bukit Road 4.

He had no valid licence to drive a van.

Selim was cycling on the other side of the road, towards Kaki Bukit Road 5.

Toh then made a U-turn, colliding with Selim.

Dashcam footage recorded from a tipper truck and a parked private bus captured the collision.

The van was seen moving away from the left side of the road to avoid colliding with the rear of the parked truck.

Toh later stopped about 40m down the road and alighted to check the front of the van.

Selim sustained serious injuries, including multiple rib fractures, skull fractures and a broken neck.

He later died in Bangladesh in 2025.

Associate

Toh then contacted his associate, Teo Kim Chiew, with whom he also dealt contraband cigarettes.

Toh told him he had knocked down a Bangladeshi at Kaki Bukit Avenue 5.

When Teo arrived at the scene, a passerby had called for an ambulance, which conveyed Selim to Changi General Hospital.

Toh later met Teo in Tampines, telling him that Selim suddenly cycled into his path.

Both men drove separately to an abandoned warehouse in Defu Lane 12 to dispose of the contraband cigarettes in the van.

The vehicle was then abandoned on the road outside the warehouse.

A few days later, Toh also told his girlfriend, who asked about the incident, that Selim had suddenly turned right and he could not brake in time.

Asleep

Toh was initially charged with attempted murder.

However, the prosecution reportedly amended it to one of voluntarily causing hurt using a dangerous weapon or means at the end of the trial.

Toh claimed he was a drug addict and fell asleep behind the wheel due to methamphetamine withdrawal, which the judge rejected.

A psychiatrist also assessed that it was unlikely that Toh had fallen asleep due to fatigue as a withdrawal symptom.

Toh did not meet the diagnostic criteria for stimulant withdrawal on the day of the incident.

The judge also noted that Toh was able to socialise, coordinate contraband cigarette deliveries, utilise a navigation app and complete a U-turn before the collision.

Furthermore, Teo sought to change his account, saying that Toh had mentioned he had fallen asleep behind the wheel.

The judge said Teo just changed his account to help Toh.

“I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the accused remained in control of the van at the material time, and that he intended for the van to collide into, and run over, the victim.” The judge reportedly said when convicting Teo.

Toh’s sentencing was adjourned to a later date.