Former cabby Abdul Hussin Idris.
SINGAPORE - A driving instructor was fatally hit by a taxi when he
was about to retrieve the L-plates on his car after coaching a
student.
On Thursday, 65-year-old former cabby Abdul Hussin Idris (above)
was fined $9,000 and banned from driving for five years for driving
negligently and causing the death of Mr Tan Seng Kiam, 67.
At the end of the lesson at 10.15pm last November, Mr Tan's student
stopped the car at the extreme left lane of Tampines Avenue 1. She
then got out of the car from the driver's side and went off. Mr Tan
got out from the passenger's side to retrieve the L-plates and
drive off.
Abdul Hussin was heading home after his shift and was driving his
empty cab on the extreme left lane of the three-lane road.
He told police he saw the car with its blinking hazard lights from
50m away, but failed to see Mr Tan.
While overtaking it, the taxi hit the car's right rear before
slamming into Mr Tan.
The driving instructor was flung forward and sustained multiple
injuries. He died at Changi General Hospital the next day.
Pleading for a light fine, defence counsel Rajan Supramaniam said
that Abdul Hussin was an active member of the residents' committee
of Tampines Terrace. The court heard that he had served with the
police force for 26 years before retiring in 1993.
Thereafter, he had been driving a taxi for 19 years. However,
Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Adrianni Marhain argued for a fine of
at least $8,000 as the cabby had ample time to switch lanes but
still failed to keep a proper lookout while overtaking.
Abdul Hussin, who is now a security guard, could have been jailed
for up to two years and fined.
- See more at:
http://ride.asiaone.com/news/general/story/fatal-accident-ex-cabby-fined#sthash.EqN1Wi6j.dpuf
