Businessman gets ban and jail for fatal crash

A businessman who caused a fatal road accident through his rash driving was sentenced to six weeks' jail yesterday.

Nandprasad Shiwsaakar, 58, who is the managing director of a surveying and consultancy firm, was also banned from driving for eight years.

His sentence has been deferred until Nov 7 so that he can attend a meeting overseas.

The father of four had initially claimed trial to causing the death of Mr Sri Ganesh, 31, at the signalised junction of Jalan Anak Bukit and Jalan Jurong Kechil on Feb 3 last year.

He threw in the towel on the second day of the resumed trial last week on the advice of his lawyer, Mr Shashi Nathan.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Soo Tet said Nandprasad was driving his car along Jalan Anak Bukit in the direction of Clementi Road at 12.42pm when he decided to make a right turn into Jalan Jurong Kechil.

When his car crossed the stop line along Jalan Anak Bukit and entered the right-turning pocket, the traffic lights were green but there was no green turning arrow.

After entering the right-turning pocket, he did not reduce his speed nor did he ensure that there were no oncoming vehicles from the left, which would have the right of way.

"This was despite the fact that the accused's view of any such oncoming vehicle was obscured by the vehicles that were, at that moment, lined up in the right-turning pockets along Jalan Anak Bukit towards the direction of Upper Bukit Timah Road," said Mr Tan.

Instead, Nandprasad travelled at a relatively constant speed while making the right turn, knowing there was a risk of causing a collision with oncoming motorists, and possibly causing injury or death.

He was in the midst of making the right turn when he encroached into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist, Mr Ganesh, who tried to swerve left to avoid the collision.

However, Mr Ganesh's motorcycle skidded and he was flung off the machine when it hit Nandprasad's car.

Mr Tan said Nandprasad was aware there was no green turning arrow in his favour in the lead-up to the collision.

Mr Ganesh suffered multiple serious injuries and remained in hospital until he died a month later, on March 3 last year.

District Judge Soh Tze Bian agreed with Mr Tan's arguments that the sentence should be sufficient to send the message that drivers should not abuse the privilege accorded to them by taking unjustified and unreasonable risks.

He added that Nandprasad's previous conviction for drink driving reflected a further, serious instance of his risk-taking behaviour, as well as his disregard for the safety of other road users.

The maximum penalty for causing death by a rash act is five years' jail and a fine.

elena@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on October 25, 2014.
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