SINGAPORE — Actress Rui En was on Friday (July 1) fined S$700 after she pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving.

The 35-year-old, whose full name is Lu Rui En, had hit a stationary motorcycle at a Clementi open-air car park on April 12. She did not have a lawyer with her as she returned to court on Friday.

During sentencing, District Judge Carol Ling noted that there was no element of drink driving in this case. There was no hurt, "only slight damaged property", said the judge.

Court documents stated that Rui En had failed to keep proper control of her BMW car, while entering a car park near Block 331, Clementi Avenue 2 at about 4.16pm that day. She mounted the kerb and collided head-on into a stationary motorcycle belonging to Mr Bahrom Sarmiten, 52. 

“At the time of accident, the weather was fine, the traffic flow was light, the road surface was dry, and visibility was clear,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor Shahla Iqbal. “Hence, the accused did drive the car without due care and attention, and failed to have proper control of the car when driving into the said open carpark,” said the DPP.

Speaking to the media after paying her fine, Rui En said: "I'm actually very relieved not because of anything but because I can finally put this down, let it go and move forward.

"I will bear full responsibility for my mistakes and I will be cautious not to let such a thing happen from now onwards. As for the people who I've caused problems for or I've caused inconvenience for due to this mistake, such as my company Hype Records, my friends and my family, I can only say I'm very very sorry."

The actress' spokesperson at Hype Records said her insurance company has compensated Mr Bahrom for the repair of the motorcycle.

Following the accident, Rui En had also apologised for her “judgmental error” and “careless driving”, and admitted that she should have handled the situation “with more tact”. 

The actress drew flak after she asked Mr Bahrom if he knew who she was when he confronted her. She said she had meant to tell Mr Bahrom she lives in the area and “won’t run” since people would recognise her, but admitted that her choice of words was "inappropriate", resulting in misunderstanding.

Rui En could have been jailed up to six months and/or fined up to S$1,000. 

In 2006, actor Christopher Lee was jailed four weeks, fined S$4,500 and banned from driving for three years after he was found guilty of drink-driving and hit-and-run charges.

Actor Terence Cao had his driver’s license suspended for two years and fined S$4,100 when he was charged with drink driving after failing a breathalyser test in 2005.