A 51-year-old Singaporean van driver has been placed on trial over an alleged attempt to murder a Bangladeshi cyclist by deliberately running him over, in a case that has drawn significant public attention due to its violent nature and links to illicit activity. The accused, a Singapore citizen, is said to have targeted the victim following suspicions of betrayal during an earlier enforcement operation.
Court proceedings revealed that the incident traces back to early 2023, when Singapore Customs conducted a raid related to illegal cigarette dealings. The Bangladeshi man was arrested during the operation, while the accused reportedly managed to evade capture. Prosecutors allege that this led the van driver to believe he had been implicated by the cyclist.
The two men later encountered each other in the Kaki Bukit area, where tensions reportedly escalated. According to the prosecution, the confrontation culminated in a deliberate act of violence that would leave the victim critically injured and eventually dead.
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT
On the afternoon of March 16, 2023, the accused was driving a van along Kaki Bukit Avenue 5 when he allegedly spotted the Bangladeshi man cycling on the opposite side of the road. Court documents state that he made a U-turn, accelerated towards the cyclist and struck him from behind.
The prosecution further alleges that the van ran over the cyclist, after which the driver failed to stop immediately. Instead, he continued driving for a short distance before halting to examine the front of his vehicle. Footage from nearby vehicles, including a bus and a tipper truck, reportedly captured the sequence of events.
In the aftermath, the accused contacted an acquaintance, claiming that he had knocked down a cyclist who had suddenly swerved into his path. However, investigators say his actions following the collision raised further suspicion.
ATTEMPTED COVER-UP AND EVIDENCE
After the incident, the accused allegedly met another individual at an abandoned warehouse in Defu Lane to dispose of contraband cigarettes that were inside the van. He later abandoned the vehicle near the same location.
The court heard that he repeated his version of events to a female friend, insisting that the collision was accidental. It was this same friend who later informed him that the police were actively searching for him, further undermining his claims of innocence.
These developments form a key part of the prosecution’s case, which argues that the accused’s behaviour after the collision was inconsistent with that of an innocent motorist involved in a traffic accident.
VICTIM’S INJURIES AND SUBSEQUENT DEATH
The Bangladeshi cyclist was rushed to Changi General Hospital with severe injuries that doctors assessed as potentially fatal in the ordinary course of events. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, he fell into a coma and never fully regained consciousness.
More than a year later, he was repatriated to Bangladesh, where he passed away in February 2025. Although the precise cause of death was not detailed in court, prosecutors have linked it to complications arising from the injuries sustained in Singapore.
PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT AND POTENTIAL SENTENCE
A psychiatric evaluation conducted on the accused found that he had a history of substance abuse and antisocial personality disorder. However, medical experts concluded that he was mentally fit at the time of the incident and fully aware of his actions.
The court was told that he was not suffering from withdrawal symptoms or fatigue-related impairment, despite evidence of methamphetamine use on the same day.
If convicted of attempted murder, the accused could face life imprisonment or a jail term of up to 20 years, along with a fine. The trial is ongoing, with further hearings expected as prosecutors continue to present their case.
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