S’porean man, 58, jailed 5 weeks after Porsche plunges into Suntec City’s Fountain of Wealth
A 58-year-old Singaporean man who crashed his Porsche into Suntec City’s iconic Fountain of Wealth after consuming alcohol has been sentenced to five weeks’ jail and banned from driving for 30 months.
Then Shing Chong pleaded guilty to one charge of dangerous driving and was sentenced on Jul. 14.
Drank about a litre of beer before crash
According to court documents, Then drove from his home to Suntec City on Jul. 12, 2024, to meet a friend at a bar.
As more friends joined the gathering, the group ordered additional drinks. Between about 6:15pm and midnight, Then consumed approximately one litre of beer.
Court records showed that at around 8:51pm, Then sent a message to a valet but failed to respond when the valet replied.
After the gathering ended, Then retrieved his Porsche and drove off.
Failed to follow road signs
Dashcam footage revealed that after the gantry barrier opened for his vehicle, Then remained stationary for about nine to 10 seconds before moving off.
While driving along Temasek Boulevard, he reportedly lost focus and failed to follow traffic signs directing motorists to turn left into a roundabout.
Instead, he continued straight ahead and cut across three lanes of the roundabout.
His vehicle subsequently smashed through a barricade surrounding the Fountain of Wealth and plunged into the basement below.
Workers narrowly avoided being hit
At the time of the incident, three construction workers were working in the basement area beneath the fountain.
Two of the workers were reportedly near the crash site when the vehicle came down. All three managed to run to safety and were not injured.
The accident caused extensive damage to the surrounding infrastructure, including barricades, planter boxes and flooring.
More than S$64,000 in repairs
Repair works following the crash cost around S$64,580.
A lorry crane was later deployed to recover the damaged Porsche from the basement.
Photographs showed the vehicle with a heavily crumpled roof and engine hood, while part of its right-side bumper had been torn off.
Although alcohol consumption featured prominently in the case, Then was not subjected to intoxication tests as he was taken to hospital following the crash.
He subsequently paid full restitution amounting to S$74,000.
Judge rejects request for mandatory treatment order
The prosecution sought a jail term of between two and four weeks, along with a 36-month driving disqualification.
However, Then’s lawyers argued that he should be assessed for a Mandatory Treatment Order (MTO), claiming there could be a connection between the incident and his major depressive disorder.
They also highlighted that their client had compensated for the damages and that his level of alcohol intoxication had not been conclusively established.
The court rejected the request.
The judge noted that additional psychiatric assessments would not resolve whether depression or alcohol consumption played a greater role in the offence.
It was also observed that Then was only diagnosed with major depressive disorder after the incident. Furthermore, he had informed medical professionals that he had consumed alcohol after taking either an antihistamine or a sleeping pill on the day of the crash.
The judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to show that a psychiatric condition, rather than alcohol-related impairment, significantly contributed to the offence.
For dangerous driving, offenders can face a jail term of up to 12 months, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.