GO for your heart operation first, then to jail.

A district court gave ailing cabby Lee Yuet Kong this choice on Thursday.

But the 68-year-old taxi driver turned down the offer, preferring to serve his one-year jail term first. Lee, a taxi driver of 30 years, was convicted in November last year of causing the death of financial adviser Alex Lim, 30, through his reckless behaviour. Mr Lim died as a result of falling off the bonner of Lee's taxi and hitting his head on the ground.

The court heard that Lee and Mr Lim had an argument after they got involved in a minor collision on April 9 last year.

Mr Lim tried to block the cabby from driving off by standing in front of the cab. He was hit and flung off the bonnet of the taxi when Lee just kept driving.

The cab accelerated before braking abruptly, causing Mr Lim to fall backwards. He hit his head on the road. He slipped into a coma and died a month later in hospital.

In sentencing Lee on Thursday, District Judge Victor Yeo had harsh words for the driver behind what he said was 'one of the worst reckless driving cases' to come before the court.

Lee showed no remorse and was nonchalant after ramming his taxi into Mr Lim.

The cabby even claimed during the trial that the financial adviser had climbed onto his bonnet.

The judge said: 'It should be emphasised that this is not an accident arising from a momentary lapse of judgement... This is a case whereby the driver showed a wilful disregard for the safety and well-being for the victim and it led to horrific consequences.'

Speaking to The Straits Times before his sentencing, a tired Lee said he was prepared to go to jail.

'I wanted to retire already and had planned to travel with my family to Japan for a holiday to spend some time with them, but because of this court case, I had to put off those plans,' he said in Mandarin.

The father of two grown-up sons has a history of heart failure and a host of other ailments, including hypertension and diabetes.

'I hope the court will understand that I am an old man and I have many illnesses and be lenient,' he said.

His lawyer, Mr N.K. Rajarh, urged the court to spare his client a custodial sentence on account of his failing health. He also suggested suggested that Mr Lim should bear some of the blame for the accident.

Referring to Mr Lim's behaviour, Mr Rajarh said: 'His conduct of blocking the taxi and preventing it from moving off in the usually busy Scotts Road, and causing a stand-off, should not be condoned as well. He had the option of noting the taxi registration number and reporting the matter to the police.'

However, Judge Yeo threw out the suggestion, and said it was 'abundantly clear' that Lee had acted recklessly and was in the wrong.

Mr Lim's girlfriend, Ms Yvonne Lin, who was in court on Thursday, broke down after the sentencing. She told The Straits Times that she was glad that the case is now over.

'In a way, it brings some sense of closure for me. I will not forgive him for what he did. Whatever punishment he gets will not bring Alex back for me and his family,' she said.