• Yousri Dahlan crashed his non-compliant e-scooter into a Land Transport Authority officer 
• He also injured another officer and later escaped by riding on the road
• He was jailed 20 days 

SINGAPORE — A 41-year-old man was jailed 20 days for injuring two Land Transport Authority (LTA) officers who tried to stop him from riding his non-compliant electric scooter.

Instead of heeding their instructions, Yousri Dahlan rode his e-scooter — weighing 31.4 kg — at high speed towards one officer. The impact of the crash flung the officer to the ground several metres away. 

When the other officer attempted to hold on to the e-scooter, Yousri pushed it away forcibly, causing its handlebar to knock against the officer’s wrist.

Yousri had contested three charges of obstructing the duties of LTA officer Ardie Indra Bambang Herman as well as committing rash acts that caused hurt to Mr Ardie and the other officer Asrul Fahmi Rashid.

He was convicted of these offences on Wednesday (Dec 9). 

He also pleaded guilty then to one charge each of committing a rash act that endangered personal safety or lives, and riding a non-compliant personal mobility device.

Under Active Mobility Regulations 2018, devices must not weigh more than 20kg. Yousri’s e-scooter was also 72cm wide, more than the maximum permissible width of 70cm.

HURTLED TOWARDS OFFICER 

The incident took place in Hougang at 6pm on Oct 16, 2018.

The two LTA officers and others from the National Parks Board were looking out for non-compliant mobility vehicles in the town.

Mr Ardie testified that he was not wearing an enforcement uniform because he was in a “covert” role.

While he was along the footpath opposite Hougang Avenue 7, he spotted Yousri riding towards Mr Asrul. He told his colleague about this and crossed over to Hougang Avenue 7, where Mr Asrul was.

While standing at the edge of a footpath there, Mr Ardie saw Yousri make a 180-degree turn on his e-scooter. This was after Mr Asrul made eye contact with Yousri.

Mr Ardie said “stop, LTA” when Yousri was about 8m away. But the rider continued hurtling towards him before his e-scooter crashed into Mr Ardie, flinging him about 3m away.

Mr Ardie suffered injuries that included a mild abrasion on his lower leg and tenderness over his shoulder.

After Yousri slammed into his colleague, Mr Asrul switched on his body-worn camera and chased after the culprit.

Yousri had fled, gone up a grass verge, lost control of his e-scooter and hit another pedestrian, who was not identified.

As he believed Yousri was a danger to other people, Mr Asrul held onto the device.

Refusing to back down, Yousri pushed the e-scooter forward, pulled it away from Mr Asrul and escaped by riding onto Hougang Avenue 7. It is illegal to ride e-scooters on roads. 

Mr Asrul sustained minor injuries, such as a superficial abrasion on his hand. 

Court documents did not state how Yousri was caught.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sheryl Yeo noted in her closing submissions during the trial that Yousri changed his version of events repeatedly.

For example, he said during cross-examination that he did not collide into Mr Ardie, but that “something also happened to him” as he had fallen in front of the officer.

For causing hurt by a rash act, Yousri could have been jailed up to a year or fined up to S$5,000, or received both penalties.

For obstructing authorised officers from performing their duties under the Active Mobility Act, he could also have faced a jail term of up to a year or a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.