Judge convicts and rebukes road rage cabby

Mr Lim (right) had fallen off after he was flung onto the taxi's bonnet

when he tried to stop Lee (left) from leaving the scene. -- PHOTOS: ST

Nov 16, 2007

Judge convicts and rebukes road rage cabby

By Chong Chee Kin

A JUDGE on Friday rebuked the cabby whose rude exchange with a motorist over a minor accident led to the young man's death. District Judge Victor Yeo, in convicting Lee Yuet Kong, 68, said it was 'abundantly clear' Lee was in the wrong when he caused the death of Mr Alex Lim, 30, a financial adviser, in the accident.

Lee will return to court on Dec 3 to be sentenced.

Mr Lim had fallen off after he was flung onto the taxi's bonnet when he tried to stop Lee from leaving the scene.

The judge added that there was no doubt 'that the accused was reckless when he drove off with the deceased in front of him and continued to do so even when he was on the bonnet'.

The accident took place in Scotts Road at about 9.20pm on April 9. Mr Lim was driving his girlfriend home when his car and Lee's taxi had a minor collision along Paterson Road.
Both vehicles pulled over beside Shaw House and an argument ensued. Lee, who had a passenger then got back into his taxi and tried to drive off.

Mr Lim, wanting to get Lee's particulars, stood in front but Lee drove away, throwing him onto the bonnet. The cab accelerated before braking abruptly, causing Mr Lim to fall backwards and hitting his head on the road.

He slipped into a coma and died a month later in hospital.

The judge said he convicted Lee based on the 'overwhelming evidence' offered by Deputy Public Prosecutor Adeline Ee. Judge Yeo added that Lee's claim that Mr Lim had jumped onto the bonnet of his taxi was 'far-fetched'.

The judge said Lee's defence was 'a non-starter to begin with', adding that he was not a credible witness.

Describing Lee as being 'vague and evasive', Judge Yeo noted that at one point, Lee even 'went so far as to say that the deceased was running after the cab' before hopping on to the bonnet.
Lee, noted the judge, was in no way cowed by Mr Lim, who stood at 1.8m tall and weighed about 75kg ,as he had claimed in court.

Lee is frail-looking, about 1.7m tall, suffers from nose cancer and diabetes, and is awaiting open-heart surgery for his heart problems.

The judge said Lee was composed and confident even as he remained in his cab until the police turned up.

'His wilful disregard for the life of the deceased was obvious, given the anger and distress of the other witnesses in the trial,' the judge said.

One witness, Miss Christina Cheong Peck Boon, 36, a telemarketer, who was a passenger in Lee's taxi at the time of the accident, had recounted how shocked and frightened she was upon seeing the cabby's action.

Lee, who is represented by lawyer N.K. Rajarh, faces up to two years in jail and a maximum $1,000 fine.

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