A 27-year-old Singapore Permanent Resident, Aswani Daryanani Mohit Riz, was sentenced to 8 weeks imprisonment and banned from driving for 3 years, after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.
He had drank several beers and drove 12km against the traffic flow along the Pan Island Expressway (PIE), driving from Paya Lebar all the way towards the airport, according to Channel NewsAsia.
The incident involving Aswani Daryanani Mohit Riz is a serious case of dangerous driving in Singapore. Here’s a summary of the key points:
Events Leading to the Offense:
Aswani, a 27-year-old Singapore permanent resident, consumed multiple glasses of beer with friends at Golden Mile Tower on May 30, 2022.
Despite feeling sleepy and having consumed alcohol, he decided to drive home in his Mitsubishi Outlander at around 3:45 am.
Around 4 am, Aswani entered the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) against the flow of traffic, covering about 12 km towards East Coast Parkway (ECP).
He drove at speeds ranging from 41 km/h to 91 km/h, passing over 40 vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, vans, and lorries.
Other road users had to take evasive action to avoid collisions.
Police alerted
A member of the public reported the incident to the police.
Aswani was arrested at his workplace the next day, with breath tests showing readings below the stipulated breath alcohol limit.
Despite not being charged with drink driving, the prosecution sought a significant jail term and driving ban due to the potential harm caused.
Prosecution’s stance
The prosecution emphasized the seriousness of Aswani’s decision to drive after drinking, highlighting the high risk of harm.
They argued that Aswani failed to take steps to mitigate risks, such as slowing down or pulling over, even after realizing he was driving against traffic.
Defence
Aswani’s lawyers claimed he was not intoxicated and had no prior convictions or traffic violations.
They argued that confusion and panic, exacerbated by his eye condition (keratoconus), led him to drive the wrong way.
The defense contended that Aswani stayed in a fast lane because he believed vehicles in that lane would travel at a slower speed.
Judgment
The judge agreed with the prosecution, stating that the risk of harm was exceptionally high.
She rejected the defense’s contention about Aswani’s lane choice and emphasized the dangerous nature of his driving for almost an hour.
Aswani received a sentence of eight weeks’ jail and a three-year driving ban.
Aswani intends to appeal against the sentence and is currently out on bail pending the appeal.