Cyclist killed in 2023 accident: Driver now to be charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder
The driver involved in a 2023 accident that killed a cyclist on Nicoll Highway will be charged on Oct 28 with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Tan Yong Ren, 35, was previously handed seven charges:
- Dangerous driving as a repeat offender
- Dangerous driving causing death as a repeat offender
- Failing to stop after an accident
- Failing to report an accident within 24 hours
- Moving the vehicle without a police officer's authority
- Failing to render assistance to the injured
- Obstructing course of justice
The police were alerted to the accident involving a car and a cyclist along Nicoll Highway towards Guillemard Road on Dec 19, 2023, at about 5am.
Mr Rajan Singh Basra, the 45-year-old cyclist, was unconscious when taken to the hospital, where he subsequently died.
Investigations revealed that Tan had allegedly consumed alcohol, driven against the flow of traffic, collided into Mr Singh and then fled the scene without rendering assistance.
The police identified and arrested Tan within 16 hours of the incident. His driver's licence was immediately suspended.
Tan was initially charged in court for dangerous driving causing death. After reviewing the case, the charge will be revised to an offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, said the police in an Oct 27 news release.
The offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder carries an imprisonment term of up to 15 years, or fine, or caning, or a combination of these penalties.
The victim, Mr Singh, was the head of Cost Optimization and Cloud FinOps for Enterprise Technology at Standard Chartered Bank, according to his LinkedIn page.
A colleague posted after his death: "He joined Standard Chartered seven years ago and only took on a new role earlier in the year filled with optimism about the future and excited about what lay ahead.
"Unfortunately, Rajan was hit by a car whilst riding his bike - we lost a dear friend, colleague and a valued member of our running club community.
"More importantly; Rajan departs the world leaving behind a loving wife and two daughters. Our thoughts go out to them.
"The family have requested that those who want to remember and honour Rajan please do so by giving back to charity and helping those who are less fortunate."
