Daijiworld Media Network - Singapore

Singapore, Aug 30: A Singapore court on Friday sentenced Indian national Natarajan Mohanraj (28) to two years and one month in jail and fined him SGD 2,000 for causing the death of Emeritus Professor Tan Yock Lin (70) of the National University of Singapore (NUS) in a road accident last year.

The incident occurred on July 7, 2023, when Mohanraj, a construction worker driving a lorry, was distracted by his mobile phone and collided with Prof Tan’s car. The impact caused the car to spin and collide with nearby vehicles, leaving Prof Tan trapped in the severely damaged vehicle. He succumbed to multiple injuries shortly after being hospitalized.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sunil Nair described the sequence of the accident: “The lorry mounted the kerb of the centre divider, smashed through green metal railings, uprooted two trees, and emerged into oncoming traffic, directly hitting the victim’s car.” The crash also injured the van driver involved, including fractured ribs.

Court documents revealed that Mohanraj had a history of careless driving. Despite being instructed by Traffic Police in June 2023 to surrender his licence by July 25, the fatal accident occurred two weeks prior. Following the incident, he continued to drive on two separate occasions in 2024, even after his licence had been revoked.

The court also imposed a lifetime driving ban on Mohanraj in Singapore. He had pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including causing death by driving without due care. The accident led to road closures for almost three hours to remove vehicles and clear debris.

The sentencing underscores Singapore’s strict approach toward road safety and repeat traffic offenders.