A 32-year-old Singaporean man has been charged with driving under the influence of methamphetamine and several other traffic-related offences following an incident in Yishun that saw a vehicle crash into an HDB rubbish chute.
The accused, identified in court documents as Sivakandesh, appeared in court on Jun. 8 over the incident, which allegedly took place on the evening of Jun. 6.
According to court documents, the man was already disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence at the time of the incident. The disqualification period reportedly runs from Jul. 23, 2024, to Jul. 22, 2026.
The reason for the earlier driving ban was not disclosed in court papers.
Prosecutors alleged that at approximately 5:58pm on Jun. 6, Sivakandesh was driving a Singapore-registered vehicle within the open-air carpark at Block 150 Yishun Street 11 when the incident occurred.
He allegedly failed to maintain proper control of the vehicle, resulting in a series of collisions within the carpark.
Vehicle Allegedly Hit Bollards, Car And Rubbish Chute
According to the charges, the vehicle first struck two concrete bollards before colliding with a parked car.
The car then allegedly crashed into an HDB rubbish chute structure before eventually coming to a stop.
Photographs from the aftermath showed significant damage to the rubbish chute and surrounding area.
The unusual crash attracted attention from residents, with images and videos of the damaged structure circulating online shortly after the incident.
Authorities further alleged that the vehicle was not covered by a valid insurance policy for third-party risks as required under Singapore’s motor vehicle laws.
The accused was also charged with driving despite being disqualified from doing so.
Allegedly Left Scene Before Police Arrived
Court documents further stated that Sivakandesh allegedly failed to remain at the scene after the crash.
He is accused of leaving the area without taking reasonable steps to notify the owners of the damaged vehicle and structures involved in the collision.
Previous reports indicated that he allegedly fled before officers arrived and later locked himself inside a residential unit.
During investigations, police reportedly discovered a stun device and suspected drug-related paraphernalia inside the vehicle.
The accused now faces a total of five traffic-related charges, including driving while under the influence of methamphetamine.
He was remanded on Jun. 8, with bail set at S$25,000.
His case has been adjourned and will return to court on Jul. 20.
Under Singapore law, a first-time offender convicted of driving while under the influence of an intoxicating substance may face up to one year in jail, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both.
Repeat offenders may face up to two years’ imprisonment and fines of up to S$20,000.
As court proceedings are ongoing, the charges against the accused remain allegations and have not been proven in court.
Top photo by Cai Zhenhong/Shin Min Daily News and Whatsapp