Tampines crash claims couple and unborn child; driver faces nine charges

The 30-year-old male driver involved in a fatal crash in Tampines Street 12 has been arrested and faces nine charges, including hit-and-run, driving without a licence and displaying false number plates. The motorcyclist and female pillion passenger who died of their injuries were a married couple, and the wife was pregnant.

The driver, Muhammad Zulfiqar Abdul Aziz, was charged on Saturday (31 October). Police arrested him in the West Coast Road area on Friday (30 October), the day after the accident. His 29-year-old female passenger, who abandoned the car and fled with him after the crash, was also arrested.

The car Zulfiqar was driving crossed the central divider in Tampines Street 12 at about 10.35pm on Thursday (29 October) and collided with another car and a motorcycle travelling in the opposite direction. It is understood that Zulfiqar and his passenger were initially trapped in the overturned car and were freed with help from members of the public. Both then abandoned the vehicle and fled before police arrived.

The 25-year-old female driver of the other car was conscious when taken to hospital. The male motorcyclist and his female pillion passenger, both 24, were unconscious when taken to hospital and later died of their injuries.

According to a report by The Straits Times, the couple were buried together at Choa Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery on Friday. Relatives interviewed said they left behind a six-year-old son and that the woman was pregnant at the time of the accident.

Zulfiqar faces nine charges: dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing hurt, driving while disqualified, leaving the scene of an accident, failing to render assistance after an accident, driving without insurance, driving a deregistered vehicle, driving without a licence and displaying false number plates.

The Straits Times reported that the accused wore a white polo shirt when he appeared in court via video link on Saturday morning to face the charges. He had blond highlights in his hair, a beard and tattoos covering his left arm. He kept his head lowered as an interpreter read the charges to him in Malay.

The prosecution asked the judge to deny the accused bail, saying he was a flight risk. The accused, however, said this was his first court appearance and that he had not run away. He questioned why the prosecution considered him a flight risk. The prosecution responded that he had indeed fled the scene after the accident.

The judge granted the prosecution's application and denied the accused bail. The case was adjourned to 27 November for a further mention.

As the couple left behind a six-year-old child, the court barred the media from reporting any information that could reveal the victims' identities.

A conviction for dangerous driving causing death carries a jail term of up to eight years. Those convicted of driving while disqualified face a fine of up to $10,000, up to three years in jail, or both. Repeat offenders face a fine of up to $20,000, up to six years in jail, or both.

The families of the two victims launched an online fundraiser on Saturday for the child they left behind. By press time, more than 4,300 people had donated over $170,000.

The relatives who organised the fundraiser said the donations would cover the child's living, education and medical expenses, as well as provide for his future financial needs.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim described the accident as “heartbreaking”, especially for the couple's son, who must now grow up without his parents and endure “unimaginable grief”.

He extended his deepest condolences to the victims' families and reiterated that leaving the scene of an accident without stopping, notifying the police or rendering assistance as required by law constitutes a serious offence.