A 27-year-old Malaysian man has admitted in court to a series of traffic-related offences after attempting to bypass congestion at Woodlands Checkpoint, an act that resulted in an auxiliary police officer being injured.
The incident, which took place in September 2025, has drawn attention to road safety enforcement at one of Singapore’s busiest border crossings. The man, identified as Suriya Ganisan, pleaded guilty to three charges, including dangerous driving and failing to stop after an accident.
Two additional charges will be considered during sentencing, which is scheduled to take place in August.
Attempt To Beat Traffic Queue Led To Dangerous Decision
According to court proceedings, Suriya had arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint in the afternoon intending to return to Malaysia. At the time, traffic conditions were heavy, with long queues forming in the designated lanes for cars, Shin Min Daily News reported.
Instead of remaining in line, he reportedly diverted his vehicle into a lane meant strictly for heavy vehicles, which appeared to be moving freely.
Despite being instructed by an auxiliary police officer to make a U-turn and rejoin the proper queue, Suriya failed to comply. Instead, he manoeuvred his vehicle away from the officer and continued driving forward.
Another officer then stepped in to intervene, but the situation quickly escalated when Suriya accelerated and crossed a double white line in an attempt to proceed.
Officer Sustains Serious Injuries After Being Struck
During the confrontation, the auxiliary police officer, identified as Muhamad Irzan bin Masrabi, was struck in the abdomen by the vehicle and fell to the ground.
Medical reports revealed that he suffered an undisplaced sacral fracture along with a cervical disc protrusion. He was hospitalised for six days and later required multiple follow-up treatments.
In total, he was granted 46 days of medical leave. Even after his discharge, he reportedly continues to experience pain when walking or sitting for extended periods.
The driver was eventually stopped before entering Malaysia and was escorted back to Singapore, where he was arrested.
Accused Expresses Regret As Sentencing Approaches
During mitigation, Suriya expressed remorse for his actions and apologised to the injured officer. His legal counsel highlighted that he comes from a modest background in Perak and lacked the financial means to sustain himself in Singapore while awaiting trial.
Despite being granted bail, Suriya chose to begin serving his sentence early due to financial constraints.
His lawyer argued for a lighter sentence, suggesting that the injuries, while serious, were not among the most severe seen in comparable cases. However, prosecutors took a firmer stance, noting that the incident could have resulted in far more severe consequences.
The prosecution is seeking a jail term of up to nearly 29 months, along with a three-year driving disqualification.
The case underscores the risks associated with reckless driving decisions, particularly in high-security zones such as border checkpoints, where strict compliance with traffic rules is essential for public safety and national security.