Mum of girl, 6, who died in Chinatown accident, still in intensive care in S’pore: Indonesia police.
The mother of six-year-old Sheyna Lashira, who died in a Feb. 6 car accident along South Bridge Road, remains in intensive care at a Singapore hospital, said the Indonesian police.
Raisha Anindra, 31, was struck by a car that had been exiting a carpark along with her young daughter.
Both were conveyed to hospital, but the girl later succumbed to her injuries.
While the girl’s body has been claimed by relatives and repatriated to Jakarta, Raisha is still receiving treatment at the Singapore General Hospital.
She is in stable condition but has not yet been cleared to return home to Jakarta, according to Indonesian news site Kumparan.
The family are reportedly tourists from Indonesia who were in Singapore for a holiday.
Staff from the Indonesian embassy earlier visited the family in hospital and met with Sheyna’s father to provide assistance and support, a spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the driver, a Singaporean woman, has since been detained by the Singapore authorities, according to the Indonesian police.
A spokesperson from the Singapore Police Force confirmed with Mothership that a 38-year-old female driver was assisting with police investigations.
She was later arrested for causing death while driving.
“Like an angel”
Rara, Sheyna’s aunt and Raisha’s older sister, described the girl as “like an angel”
She had been attending kindergarten in Jakarta, and was always bringing joy to the people around her, she said.
“She was kind and very cheerful… Always making people happy. Whenever you saw her, you’d think that she was such a delightful child,” she told Kumparan.
She also expressed hope that Raisha would recover quickly and be reunited with the rest of the extended family.
“Please just pray that she gets well soon and recovers quickly, so she can return to Jakarta, to Indonesia again,” she said.
The accident
According to an eyewitness, a dark-coloured BYD car was allegedly exiting the car park and was making a right turn when it hit the mother and daughter. The girl and her mother had been crossing the road, while the father had walked ahead and was pushing a stroller with their two-year-old child.
While the mother appeared to later regain consciousness, the girl was seen bleeding profusely.
Her father was later seen holding her in his arms and calling for help, in a video posted by Facebook user Nguyen Thi Hanh.
“My family… Please, oh my God, why,” he could be heard crying.
In Singapore la
w, if a driver’s lack of due care or reasonable consideration causes the death of a pedestrian, the offence is dealt with under Section 65 of the Road Traffic Act (RTA). The court looks at the circumstances and the driver’s conduct to determine the penalty.
Penalties for Driving Without Due Consideration Causing Death
Under Section 65(2) of the RTA:
First-time offenders:
– Up to 3 years’ imprisonment, and/or
– A fine of up to S$10,000.
Repeat offenders:
– Up to 6 years’ imprisonment, and/or
– A fine of up to S$20,000.
In addition to imprisonment and fines, courts will disqualify the offender from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period of time, unless there are special reasons not to.
Sentencing Practice
Recent court cases in Singapore show actual sentences vary based on factors like speed, lookout failure, and remorse. Examples include:
Jail terms of several months and driving disqualification for around 8 years for drivers pleading guilty to causing a pedestrian’s death under this offence.
In some cases, a fine and lengthy driving ban have been imposed, particularly when the court finds lower culpability.
More Serious Offence
If the driving is considered dangerous or reckless (a more serious standard than just lack of due care), the driver may be charged under Section 64 of the RTA, which can carry up to 8 years’ imprisonment and a long driving ban for a first-time offence.
Summary:
For causing a pedestrian’s death due to driving without due consideration in Singapore, the maximum statutory penalty for a first offence is up to 3 years in jail and/or a fine up to S$10,000, plus a likely driving disqualification period. If the driver has prior convictions, the penalties can be much higher.
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