Road bully gets fine, two-year driving ban

Road bully gets fine, two-year driving ban

Student Quek Zhen Hao first swerved recklessly into the path of another driver without signalling, almost causing a collision. Then he got out of his vehicle and approached the woman in the other car in a threatening manner.

Yesterday, the 25-year-old was fined $5,400 and disqualified from driving for two years after he pleaded guilty to two charges of driving rashly to endanger life and one of displaying threatening behaviour.

District Judge Soh Tze Bian told Quek that he could have faced a jail sentence if he had hurt the woman. "Let this be a lesson learnt for the rest of your life," said the judge.

Quek, who did not have a lawyer, had pleaded against the driving ban as "I have to work for my father", who is in the shipping business. Fighting to control his emotions, he said: "He has an eyesight problem and brain problem. I have to drive any time of the day, sometimes at 3am."

Quek insisted that he has learnt to control himself, is deeply remorseful and had even posted a video on YouTube to apologise for his behaviour. "At that time, I was very stupid and I didn't think properly."

Before sentencing, the court was shown a video capturing Quek's rash behaviour on Jan 28.

The video was taken by Ms Goh Siok Ling's in-car camera.

At about 9am, Ms Goh was driving in the carpark near Block 203 Petir Road. She made a right turn into a two-way lane to exit the carpark. She came head on with Quek's Honda Civic as there was a vehicle parked on the side of the road that he was on.

As there was no space to pass each other safely, Ms Goh reversed to give way to Quek.

Instead of driving past, Quek inched his car forward. Wanted to avoid a confrontation, Ms Goh, 40, turned to take another exit.

But instead of parking his car as he had initially intended, Quek tailgated Ms Goh onto Petir Road and Dairy Farm Road.

On three occasions, he swerved his car into her lane without signalling, forcing her to brake hard to avoid a collision.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Selene Yap, who called for a two- year ban, told the court this persistence in committing a dangerous act was an aggravating factor.

After sentencing, Quek's father told reporters: "We are not happy because the other party was not blamed. It's unfair!" Quek could have been jailed up to one year and/or fined up to $5,000 for driving rashly to endanger life.

joycel@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on May 30, 2014.
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