Jail for police assistant superintendent who drove after drinking at pub and injured motorcyclist in hit-and-run
Shaffiq Alkhatib
The Straits Times
Aug 15, 2025
A police assistant superintendent with a history of traffic offences, including careless driving and speeding, drove a car after consuming alcohol in 2023 and it struck a motorcyclist.
Instead of stopping to help the woman, who suffered multiple fractures, Bernard Tan Bee Sen, 53, drove away but was caught in his home after Traffic Police (TP) officers tracked him down.
A test on a breath-analysing device at the TP headquarters showed he had 78 micrograms (mcg) of alcohol per 100ml of breath, more than double the prescribed limit of 35 mcg of alcohol.
On Aug 15, Tan, who has since been suspended from work, was sentenced to a year and two months' jail, and a fine of $6,000.
He was disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licences for a period of seven years from his release date.
He pleaded guilty to one count each of drink driving, causing grievous hurt to the motorcyclist while driving without due care and attention, and failing to help her after the accident.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Darren Ang told the court that, between 1999 and 2012, Tan committed multiple traffic offences and paid composition sums for them.
On Aug 18, 2023 - the day of his latest offence - Tan consumed alcohol at a pub in Upper Paya Lebar Road between 7pm and 11pm before he drove home.
He was driving along Bartley Road East towards Tampines Avenue 10, shortly before 11.50pm, when he lost control of the vehicle, which veered to the left and struck a concrete barrier.
The car then swerved to the right and struck a motorcycle. The 28-year-old rider was flung off, and Tan drove away.
A 29-year-old car driver saw the woman on the ground and Tan's car travelling about 50m ahead of the accident scene.
The DPP said: "The witness suspected that the car was involved in the accident. After ensuring that someone else was tending to the victim, the witness followed the car and took a picture of (it).
"The witness then returned to the accident scene and found a side mirror cover that matched the colour of the car. The witness subsequently made a police report."
The victim was conscious when an ambulance took her to Changi General Hospital, where she was found with fractures to her left shoulder blade and multiple ribs.
She was warded for 18 days and was given 163 days of medical leave.
The court heard that, after the accident, TP officers went to Tan's home in the wee hours of Aug 19, 2023, and he failed a breathalyser test.
He was taken to the TP headquarters for a second test, which showed his alcohol readings.
On Aug 15, 2025, defence lawyer C.K. Teo told the court that Tan was remorseful.
He said his client intends to appeal against his sentence. Tan's bail has been set at $20,000.
