Ex-actor Edmund Chen's jail sentence stayed pending appeal outcome, bail increased to $15k
Christine Tan
The Straits Times
Feb 6, 2026
The courts have allowed former actor Edmund Chen's five-day jail sentence over his role in a traffic accident to be stayed pending the outcome of his appeal.
The 64-year-old, identified in court records as Tan Kai Yuan, appeared at the State Courts on Feb 6, days after he filed an appeal against the jail sentence on Feb 2.
District Judge Shawn Ho, who had earlier imposed the sentence on Chen on Jan 29, granted his application to stay his sentence and increased his bail from $10,000 to $15,000.
The judge had decided on the jail term despite the prosecution asking for only a fine of between $3,000 and $5,000.
Chen had pleaded guilty to one count of causing grievous hurt to a motorcyclist, 21, while driving a car without consideration for other road users. The accident left the motorcyclist with multiple wrist fractures.
Chen was originally supposed to start serving his jail term on March 9 after District Judge Ho granted him a deferment to sort out his affairs after Chinese New Year.
The judge also disqualified him from driving for five years.
Accompanied by his new lawyers Kelvin Ong and Dickson Chew from Contigo Law, Chen appeared composed while entering the courts on Feb 6.
During the court hearing, he discharged his previous lawyers, Mr Josephus Tan and Mr Cory Wong from Invictus Law.
Mr Ong said the defence was seeking a stay of execution for Chen's jail sentence and driving disqualification.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Stephen Yeo asked for Chen's bail to be increased as he had been convicted and faced a custodial sentence, but said the prosecution would leave the amount to the courts.
Meanwhile, Mr Ong asked for his client's bail to be increased to at most $15,000.
The court heard previously that Chen was driving on the AYE towards the CTE at around noon on March 4, 2025. Just before the point of collision, he slowed down almost to a complete stop on the expressway before filtering abruptly into another lane.
DPP Yeo said this was because Chen had not formed up in the correct lane but had still tried to enter the CTE/SLE by braking abruptly and filtering against a chevron marking.
The prosecution said Chen had failed to keep a proper lookout. A motorcyclist coming from behind crashed into Chen's car despite swerving to avoid him.
The motorcyclist had to undergo surgery for multiple wrist fractures. He was hospitalised for two days and given 99 days of hospitalisation leave, but did not suffer permanent disability.
In sentencing Chen, District Judge Ho described his actions as intentional violations of specific safety rules designed to prevent high-speed collisions.
Said the judge: "A driver who chooses to ignore expressway restrictions demonstrates a cavalier disregard for the significant risk of a high-impact crash."
Speaking to reporters after the Feb 6 court hearing, Chen declined to comment on why he was filing an appeal, and changed lawyers.
He said in Mandarin: "I respect the courts and the legal process is still ongoing."
When asked if he would continue driving after his disqualification ban was over, Chen said: "I don't think I will. Five years later, I'll be almost 70 years old."
Chen used to be a household name, appearing in multiple popular television drama series, including Star Maiden and Patrol.
He left show business to take care of his daughter Chen Yixin when she was born in 2000, but later returned for occasional acting roles, including in television drama series Life Less Ordinary in 2017.
He is married to veteran actress Xiang Yun, known for her roles in classic local dramas such as The Awakening, Double Happiness and The Little Nyonya.
Their two children, including son Chen Xi, are also in show business.
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