SINGAPORE — A 66-year-old lorry driver was sentenced to two weeks’ jail and a nine-month driving ban on Thursday (April 2) for his involvement in a road rage incident along Telok Blangah Road last year.

Sim Eng Hwa had abruptly changed lanes while driving, almost colliding into a motorcyclist. He eventually charged towards the other man with a crowbar but passersby intervened before he could cause any harm.

He was also fined S$1,800 for dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty to the said offence and another charge of committing a rash act that endangered the safety of others.

The court heard that the incident happened on March 18 last year.

At about 5.30pm, the motorcyclist, then 24, was riding along Telok Blangah Road in the direction of Marina Coastal Expressway, with his wife riding pillion.

Sim suddenly changed lanes without turning on his signal indicators, encroaching into the motorbike’s path. 

The motorcyclist swerved and narrowly avoided colliding with Sim’s lorry.

When both of them stopped on the road, the motorcyclist banged twice on the lorry’s side door where Sim was to show his displeasure.

Angered by this, Sim opened the door quickly. It struck the motorbike and caused the rider to lose his balance, while his wife managed to jump off before the motorbike toppled.

After the motorcyclist fell, Sim alighted and began arguing with him.

Then, Sim’s older brother, who had been in the front passenger seat, retrieved a metal bladeless hacksaw from the back of the lorry. He hit the motorcyclist with it once on his wrist and shoulder.

As this went on, Sim took a crowbar — measuring 75cm long and weighing about 1.65kg — and charged towards the victim.

Passersby managed to prevent him from using the crowbar on the victim and stop the brother’s attack as well.

Sim’s brother was similarly jailed two weeks for his role in the incident. 

In mitigation, Sim, who is dealt the nine-month driving ban, pleaded for leniency and said that it was difficult for him to find a job, especially during the Covid-19 crisis now.

After he was sentenced, he exclaimed in Mandarin: “Why is it so unfair? I did not even fight, why did I get jailed?”