Update on the Benjamin Mok hit and run case - suspect charged in court

Last March, Benjamin Mok was killed by a suspected drink-driver along Clementi Road. The suspect was charged in court yesterday and is out on out on $10,000 police bail. The case resumes on 21 Jul 2011.

"Doc faces five charges over fatal accident with cyclist," by Elena Chong, Court Correspondent. The Straits Times, 10 Jun 2011. General practitioner is accused of failing to stop and help after collision in Clementi last year.

"THE accident in Clementi last year killed a cyclist and injured another, and sparked off efforts by cycling groups to raise cycling awareness on roads here.

Yesterday, a doctor, Teo Tiong Kiat, 63, was charged in court over the incident near Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

He is alleged to have caused the death of freelance writer Mok Chee Kong, 35, by committing a negligent act along Clementi Road on March 21 last year at about 9.25pm. He is also said to have caused grievous hurt to Mr Bertram Leong Poh Meng, 23, a chef, who was cycling in front of Mr Mok.

The collisions occurred when Teo was filtering from the centre lane to the left one.

The general practitioner also faces three other charges of failing to stop after the accident; failing to render help; and removing his car without the approval of a police officer.

Mr Mok, an experienced cyclist who had ridden overseas in countries like the United States, died three days later without regaining consciousness.

Teo's lawyer, Mr Chen Chee Yen, said he had just been briefed and applied for the case to be adjourned to take instructions.

Teo, who is out on $10,000 police bail, will be back in court on July 21.

If convicted, he can be jailed up to two years, fined or both for causing death; and jailed up to two years and/or fined up to $5,000 for causing grievous hurt by committing a negligent act to endanger life.

The maximum penalty for not stopping after an accident and removing a vehicle without authority is a $1,000 fine or three months' jail on each charge.

For failing to render assistance, the maximum punishment is a $3,000 fine or 12 months' jail.

After Mr Mok's death, cycling groups lobbied for a national safe cycling campaign to be launched.

A 'ghost bike' memorial was erected at the accident scene in Clementi Road. 'Ghost bikes' first appeared in the US at places where cyclists had been knocked down.

They serve as both a warning to other cyclists and a reminder to drivers that cyclists also ply the roads they use."

elena@sph.com.sg

Related links:

• "RIP Benjamin Mok" - 26 Mar 2010
• "Ghost bike' memorial for Benjamin Mok, RIP (The New Paper)" - 09 Apr 2010.
• "Cyclists launch safety drive" (The Straits Times)" - 09 Apr 2010.
• Benkamin Mok Pedal On - webpage

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"Drink driving caused doctor to run down cyclist" The 64-year-old stands accused of hit-and-run for the Clementi Road accident at about 9.25pm on March 21, 2010. -AsiaOne The Straits Times, 24 Mar 2012

SINGAPORE - Dr Teo Tiong Kiat admitted in court on Friday to causing the death of a pedal cyclist and injuring another when he suddenly swerved from the centre to the left lane of the road. The 64-year-old stands accused of hit-and-run for the Clementi Road accident at about 9.25pm on March 21, 2010.

The careless driving caused the death of Mr Mok Chee Kong, 35, when Dr Teo hit the back of the freelance writer's bicycle. He also injured Mr Bertram Leong Poh Meng, 24, a fellow cyclist. The court heard that he had a glass of red wine before the accident. Dr Teo is pleading guilty to two charges.

As for the three remaining charges of failing to stop and provide assistance after the accident, as well as removing his car without lawful authority, Mr Teo is claiming trial. Mr Teo returned to the scene after half an hour and told the traffic police that he was the driver of the car. He smelled of alcohol and his face was flushed, said the corporal present at the scene of the crime. Dr Teo's second breathalyser test on the scene recorded a 'warning' reading. At the Traffic Police headquarters, he was required to take another test, which he passed. The test recorded about half the prescribed legal limit of 35mcg per 100ml.

 The trial continues next week.

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"Doctor said he did not know he had hit 2 cyclists," by Elena Chong. The Straits Times, 27 Mar 2012

A general practitioner - who claimed trial to failing to stop his car, rendering help to two cyclists after an accident and removing his vehicle without authority - said in his defence that he did not know that he was involved in an accident.

Teo Tiong Kiat, 64, told the court on Tuesday that he only came to know that his car must have hit the two cyclists later on when he walked back to the accident scene along Clementi Road on March 21, 2010. He admitted last Friday to causing the death of freelance writer Benjamin Mok Chee Kong, 35, and injuring another cyclist, Bertram Leong Poh Meng, 24, by failing to keep a proper lookout when swerving from the centre lane into the left lane, hitting the back of the two cyclists travelling in front of him.

He will not be sentenced until after the end of his trial. Teo, who has since stopped driving, testified that he was driving along Clementi Road on his way home after dinner when he felt the car swerving to the left and the car wobbling. He lost control of the car and heard a loud sound. He was desperately trying to bring his car under control. When he finally did so, he drove down the slip road to Upper Bukit Timah Road and parked at the carpark.

When he got down to check, he was shocked to see the damage to the car's bonnet, windscreen and roof. He met a man called Michael Teo, who was having dinner with his family. He told Mr Teo that it was amazing that his car was so badly damaged and he did not have any injury.

Later on, his office manager came to the carpark and pointed out the missing front number plate. He then decided to walk back to the scene where he saw police and his number plate by the side of the road. Teo said had he known that he was involved in an accident and caused injury to the cyclists at the time, he would have rendered aid.

'I also want to add that as a doctor, it is my duty and my training to render assistance to the poor, and to the sick, all the more so if I had known that I had caused injury to somebody, I would have definitely rendered my assistance,' he said.

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"GP guilty of 3 offences in fatal hit-and-run" The Straits Times, 26 Apr 2012 By Elena Chong

A GENERAL practitioner was yesterday found guilty of three traffic offences related to a hit-and-run incident on Clementi Road which claimed the life of a cyclist two years ago. Teo Tiong Kiat, 64, who runs a clinic in Clementi, had been charged with failing to stop after the accident, failing to render help, and removing his car from the scene.

He admitted that his negligence caused the death of freelance writer Mok Chee Kong, 35, and grievously injured Mr Mok's friend, Mr Bertram Leong Poh Meng, 24, who was also cycling that evening of March 21, 2010. Teo, who had had a glass of wine over dinner but whose breath specimen was below the prescribed legal limit for drink driving, had veered from the centre lane to the left lane, hitting the cyclists. The pair hit the windscreen of Teo's car, flipped over its roof and landed on the road.

Teo had said in his defence that he had fallen asleep at the wheel and was unaware that he had been in an accident. Convicting him of the three charges, District Judge John Ng said the doctor had failed to prove this. The car was very badly damaged and evidence given by experts on what must have been a forceful impact from the collision made his claim to being unaware impossible to accept, he said. 

Teo's mitigation plea will be made on May 25.

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"Doctor gets jail, driving ban for causing cyclist's death" By Alvina Soh | Posted: 25 May 2012 1329 hrs http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1203498/1/.html 

SINGAPORE: A doctor who caused the death of a cyclist and seriously injured another was on Friday jailed four weeks and banned from driving for five years. 64-year-old Teo Tiong Kiat admitted to causing the death of 35-year-old Mok Chee Kong along Clementi Road towards Upper Bukit Timah Road on March 21, 2010.

Teo pleaded guilty to five charges, including failing to keep a proper lookout, causing grievious hurt and failing to render assistance to the victims. The court heard that Teo, who runs his own clinic at Clementi, had a glass of red wine before the accident. Investigations revealed that Mok, along with two others -- 24-year-old Bertram Leong Poh Meng and 18-year-old Douglas Sim Chun Ya -- were cycling on the extreme left lane of a four-lane road.

Teo was driving in the second lane when he suddenly swerved into the cyclists' lane. Teo then collided into the back of the bicycles which Mok and Leong were riding, throwing both men onto the bonnet of his car. The court heard that Mok and Leong flipped over the car's roof and landed on the road. Teo left the scene after the accident and returned less than an hour later. He then informed a police officer at the scene that he was the driver.


Mok, who was sent to hospital unconscious, passed away three days later from multiple injuries, including severe head injury. His friend, Leong, suffered serious head and neck injuries. Speaking to the media after the sentence was passed, Teo said he was remorseful and asked for forgiveness from the victims' families. - CNA/wm

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"Doctor gets jail, driving ban for causing cyclist's death" By Alvina Soh | Posted: 25 May 2012 1329 hrs http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1203498/1/.html 

SINGAPORE: A doctor who caused the death of a cyclist and seriously injured another was on Friday jailed four weeks and banned from driving for five years. 64-year-old Teo Tiong Kiat admitted to causing the death of 35-year-old Mok Chee Kong along Clementi Road towards Upper Bukit Timah Road on March 21, 2010.

Teo pleaded guilty to five charges, including failing to keep a proper lookout, causing grievious hurt and failing to render assistance to the victims. The court heard that Teo, who runs his own clinic at Clementi, had a glass of red wine before the accident. Investigations revealed that Mok, along with two others -- 24-year-old Bertram Leong Poh Meng and 18-year-old Douglas Sim Chun Ya -- were cycling on the extreme left lane of a four-lane road. Teo was driving in the second lane when he suddenly swerved into the cyclists' lane. Teo then collided into the back of the bicycles which Mok and Leong were riding, throwing both men onto the bonnet of his car.

The court heard that Mok and Leong flipped over the car's roof and landed on the road. Teo left the scene after the accident and returned less than an hour later. He then informed a police officer at the scene that he was the driver. Mok, who was sent to hospital unconscious, passed away three days later from multiple injuries, including severe head injury. His friend, Leong, suffered serious head and neck injuries.

Speaking to the media after the sentence was passed, Teo said he was remorseful and asked for forgiveness from the victims' families.

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"Doctor guilty of causing cyclist's death through negligence fined $20,000 by SMC" By Kash Cheong The Straits Times, Friday, March 14, 2014 - 19:46 

A doctor found negligent in a fatal hit-and-run accident has been fined $20,000 and censured by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC)'s disciplinary tribunal. Get the full story from The Straits Times. 

Here is the statement from the SMC: The SMC's Disciplinary Tribunal ("DT") held a disciplinary inquiry on 28 January 2014 against Dr Teo Tiong Kiat ("Dr Teo"). Dr Teo is currently practising at Teo Clinic & Surgery Pte Ltd.

 This matter stemmed from Dr Teo's conviction, after trial, on 25 May 2012 of three offences (collectively referred to hereinafter as the "3 Criminal Convictions") in the Subordinate Courts as follows:-

• (a) Failing to stop his motor vehicle after committing a serious road traffic accident which caused serious injuries to one cyclist and death to another under Section 84(1) read with Section 84(7) of the Road Traffic Act (Cap. 276, 2004 Rev Ed) ("the Act"); an offence punishable under Section 131(2) of the Act (the "First Offence"); 
• (b) Failing to render such assistance as may reasonably be in his power under Section 84(3) read with Section 84(7) of the Act; an offence punishable under Section 84(8) read with Section 84(9) of the Act (the "Second Offence");and 
• (c) Removing his motor vehicle after the accident without the authority of a police officer under Section 84(4) read with section 84(7) of the Act; an offence punishable under Section 131(2) of the Act (the "Third Offence"). 

In relation to the 3 Criminal Convictions, the following penalties were imposed by the Court:-

• (a) First Offence - 1 week imprisonment; 
• (b) Second Offence - 2 weeks' imprisonment and disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licence for a period of 5 years with effect from the date of release from prison; 
• (c) Third Offence - 1 week imprisonment. 

Dr Teo had also pleaded guilty to two charges of negligent driving arising from the same factual matrix, and for which separate penalties were imposed. In the result, the Court imposed a global sentence of 4 weeks' imprisonment and disqualification from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licence for a period of 5 years with effect from the date of Dr Teo's release from prison for the five offences.

At the disciplinary hearing, Dr Teo was charged under the Medical Registration Act (Cap. 174) for three counts of having been convicted of offences implying a defect in character which made him unfit for his profession, one for each of the 3 Criminal Convictions. No charges were preferred at the disciplinary hearing for the two charges of negligent driving. Dr Teo pleaded guilty to the 3 charges preferred and was accordingly convicted by the DT.

In the DT's Grounds of Decision, the DT indicated that it considered Dr Teo's mitigation plea and the submissions made by Counsel for the SMC. In relation to the mitigation plea, the DT noted that Dr Teo was deeply remorseful, that he pleaded guilty to the 2 charges of negligent driving before the Court, and that he did not contest the charges that he faced before the DT.

The DT also noted that Dr Teo had an unblemished record, and that these proceedings constituted Dr Teo's first disciplinary offences in his many years of medical practice. Testimonials from Dr Teo's fellow professionals and ex-patients attesting to his outstanding qualities and professionalism as a doctor and friend were also taken into consideration.

The DT noted that this was a case where the 3 charges arose out of the same road accident. While the DT acknowledged that "hit-and-run" related offences are serious offences, it further observed that unlike previous SMC disciplinary proceedings involving criminal convictions that had resulted in the imposition of a sentence of suspension for the doctor concerned, this particular case did not involve any pre-meditation, fraud, dishonesty, or violence.

Insofar as the need for the protection of the public was concerned, the DT noted that Dr Teo had voluntarily stopped driving immediately after the accident and that he voluntarily undertook not to drive again for the remainder of his life.

The DT therefore determined that the risk of reoffending is significantly reduced in this particular case. Having considered the relevant factors in its entirety, the DT ordered that Dr Teo:-

• (a) pay a penalty of $20,000.00; 
• (b) be censured; 
• (c) give a written undertaking to SMC that he will not apply for a driving license or drive in future or engage in the conduct complained of and any similar conduct; and 
• (d) pay the costs and expenses of and incidental to these proceedings, including the costs of the solicitors to the SMC.

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