High Court upholds seven-year sentence for reckless driving that killed one, injured six
A drunk driver who sped through Tampines at nearly three times the speed limit and caused a deadly crash has lost his appeal against a seven-year jail sentence. The High Court found the original punishment appropriate, calling the case one of the most serious of its kind in recent memory.
Appeal Rejected in Fatal Crash Case
On July 14, 2025, the High Court dismissed an appeal filed by 36-year-old Jeremiah Ng En You, who sought a reduction of his seven-year jail term. Ng had pleaded guilty in October 2023 to charges of drink driving and dangerous driving causing death. The court described the incident as a reckless and selfish act that ended a life and injured six others.
Ng was also disqualified from driving for 12 years after his release. The original sentence, reduced from the maximum 10 years due to an early guilty plea, was deemed appropriate considering the severity of the harm caused.
Speeding and Alcohol: A Deadly Mix
The fatal crash occurred just before midnight on December 23, 2021. After drinking four cans of beer at his office in Tampines Street 93, Ng got behind the wheel of his brother’s red Mercedes with his brother in the passenger seat.
Travelling at speeds of up to 169km/h on Tampines Avenue 1—nearly three times the 60km/h limit—Ng later attempted a left turn at the junction with Tampines Avenue 10. Instead, he lost control and ploughed across the divider, slamming into several stopped vehicles.
Innocent Lives Shattered
The red Mercedes struck a Gojek vehicle at a red light, killing the 59-year-old driver. His two passengers, along with four other road users, were injured in the multi-vehicle crash. A motorcyclist caught between vehicles suffered severe injuries, including traumatic brain injury and multiple fractures, resulting in long-term disabilities.
“The heaviest punishment for [Ng] will be the lifelong burden of knowing that his irresponsible and selfish action of drink driving claimed an innocent life,” the High Court wrote in its decision.
Court Acknowledges Compensation, But Harm Prevails
Ng voluntarily paid around S$457,000 in compensation to victims—a move the High Court recognized as honourable. However, the judges emphasized that the monetary gesture could not outweigh the devastation caused by the crash.
“Our public roads are not a racetrack,” the judges stated, condemning Ng’s excessive speed and alcohol-fueled recklessness. The case serves as a stark warning to others who might take similar risks.
Road Safety and Public Trust
In rejecting the appeal, the court highlighted the broader implications of such dangerous behaviour. “In a country where order and public safety define daily life, the decision to drive under the influence stands out not just as a reckless act, but a dangerous betrayal of public trust,” the judgment stated.
This ruling underscores Singapore’s firm stance on road safety and the legal system’s commitment to justice for victims of avoidable tragedies.
This case serves as a sobering reminder to both Indonesians and Singaporeans of the irreversible consequences of drink driving. Beyond legal penalties, such acts destroy families and lives in an instant. The judiciary’s firm response affirms that public roads are no place for reckless behaviour, and justice must reflect the value of every innocent life lost.
Sources: Must Share News (2025) , Straits Times (2025)
Keywords: Tampines Accident, Drink Driving Sentence, Gojek Driver Killed, High Court Appeal, Singapore Road Safety, Jeremiah Ng
