2024 Tampines chain collision that killed 2: Prosecution asking for up to 13.5 years' jail for man, 45

The prosecution is seeking up to 13.5 years' jail for a Singaporean man, Muhammad Syafie Bin Ismail, 45, the driver who caused a chain collision in Tampines on Apr. 24, 2024.

Syafie appeared in court on Sep. 7, 2026.

Prosecution and defence sentencing arguments

The prosecution and defence called for a lifetime driving ban for Syafie.

The Deputy Public Prosecutor sought a jail term of 12 years and nine months to 13-and-a-half years.

He cited the damage to five vehicles, which has not been quantified, as well as the S$1,317 in repair costs sustained by the lamp post and green railing.

The victims are separately pursuing insurance claims against Syafie.

The DPP sought to accord only a 10 to 15 per cent — instead of 30 per cent — plead-guilty discount and for the three sentences to run consecutively.

In his mitigation plea, defence lawyer Kalaithasan Karuppaya sought between seven-and-a-half and eight years' jail, with a lifetime driving ban.

He added that Syafie admits that he should not have committed the acts in question and that his actions were due to a "lapse in judgement".

In court documents seen by Mothership, the lawyer shared that Syafie has previously devoted to serving the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) as a dedicated Quranic teacher since being qualified in 2019.

However, he was "unfortunately suspended" by MUIS from teaching in late 2024 due to the current proceedings.

Syafie had personally drafted a handwritten letter of apology to the victims and their families to express his "profound regret and remorse" for his actions and the pain and suffering he had caused, the lawyer added.

Principal District Judge Toh Han Li adjourned sentencing to October as he said he needed time.

What happened

Syafie ran a red light while speeding, which resulted in the deaths of two people.

A 17-year-old student, who was being driven to school by her father, and a 57-year-old woman, who was in the back of a van, died.

Syafie pleaded guilty on Aug. 6 to three charges for dangerous driving causing death, causing grievous hurt and causing hurt.

Other charges will be considered during sentencing.

Syafie's car overtook and side-swiped a car driven by another man, who had earlier overtaken him in Bedok.

Syafie had accelerated to 122kmh.

He swerved in and out of lanes along Bedok Reservoir Road and narrowly missed a motorcyclist.

He then accelerated to the cross junction of Bedok Reservoir Road, Tampines Avenue 1 and Tampines Avenue 4 at a speed of 129kmh to 134kmh.

The light had been red for at least 26 seconds.

Vehicles were travelling across the road in both directions.

Syafie hit three vehicles, which in turn hit a van and a school bus.

Three victims were grievously injured.

Some of them required multiple surgeries.

Another five victims, including two 11-year-old children, were injured and hospitalised.

Some of the victims developed post-traumatic stress disorder.

The mother of the 17-year-old girl developed major depressive disorder, finding life meaningless.

Syafie committed a careless driving violation in April 2022, among other traffic violations.

Penalties

For dangerous driving causing death, the penalty is between two and eight years' jail and a driving ban of up to 10 years.

For dangerous driving causing grievous hurt, the penalty is between one year and five years' jail and a driving ban of up to eight years.

For dangerous driving causing hurt, the penalty is up to two years' jail, and a fine of up to S$10,000, or both.