SOURCE: The Straits Times
A DOCTOR accused of failing to stop after
an accident and not helping the injured said yesterday that he did
not know that he was involved in one.
Teo Tiong Kiat, 64, said in his defence that if he had known
that he had injured someone, he would have extended help.
As a doctor, he added, it was his duty to help the injured.
The general practitioner, who runs a clinic in Clementi,
admitted to causing the death of freelance writer Mok Chee Kong,
35, and injuring another cyclist, Mr Bertram Leong Poh Meng, 24,
along Clementi Road on March 21, 2010 through his negligence.
But he denied three other charges of not stopping, rendering
assistance and moving his vehicle without lawful authority.
The court heard that Teo’s car had suddenly swerved to the
extreme left lane where the cyclists were, hitting Mr Mok’s bicycle
and then Mr Leong’s.
The impact caused both cyclists to land on the car’s bonnet,
severely denting it. They also hit the windscreen, breaking it.
Mr Mok died without regaining consciousness three days later. Mr
Leong was in hospital until March 29.
Asked by his lawyer, Senior Counsel Sant Singh, yesterday what
his feelings were about the incident, Teo said he was still
extremely upset and very sorry about what had happened.
Since the accident, he has not driven as he was “fearful”.
Earlier, Teo testified that he had begun that day at dawn with a
house call to certify the cause of death of a five-year-old boy
from a brain tumour.
He then went to church with his family, had lunch and tried to
sleep when he went home but could not. He went to his clinic to
clear some paperwork. He had dinner with his office manager, Ms
Celine Lee, and had a glass of wine.
On his way home, he felt the car swerving to the left and
wobbling along Clementi Road. He lost control and heard a loud
sound.
He eventually brought the vehicle under control and took the
slip road to Upper Bukit Timah Road. He parked at the Bukit Timah
Market and Food Centre carpark to inspect the tyre.
He was shocked the see the extensive damage to the bonnet,
windscreen and roof. He told a man called Mr Michael Teo, who was
having dinner with his family, that it was amazing he was not
injured given that his car was so badly damaged.
Teo said he took photographs of the car. So did Mr Teo’s
daughter, and both men exchanged name cards.
Subsequently, when his office manager arrived, Teo again said it
was a miracle that he was alive. She pointed out that the car’s
front number plate was missing.
They decided to walk back. It was only when he saw the police,
the two bicycles and a pool of blood in Clementi Road that he
realised his car must have hit the bicycles.
The number plate was also found by the roadside.
Under cross-examination, Deputy Public Prosecutor Adrian Loo
suggested that Teo had returned to the scene after he discovered
that his licence plate was missing. Teo did not agree.
“I put it to you that you knew or ought to have known from the
cracked windscreen and dented roof at the point of collision that
you had hit the two cyclists,” DPP Loo
said.
Teo disagreed.
District Judge John Ng will hear submissions from both sides on
Friday.
