'Funky Chef' charged over fatal accident

[Admiral Motti]

Mar 21, 2011

'Funky Chef' charged over fatal accident

By Elena Chong

Melvyn Lee Shang Bin, 24, was charged in court with causing death of a motorcyclists and injuring a female passenger in a car on an expressway in 2009. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

A PRIVATE chef, who used to be one half of a cooking duo called The Funky Chefs, was charged in court on Monday with causing the death of a motorcyclist and injuring a female passenger in a car on an expressway in 2009.

Melvyn Lee Shang Bin, 24, was driving a car on the right lane of the three-lane East Coast Parkway on Oct 18, 2009 when he is said to have veered towards the left and side-swiped a car on the centre lane.

The impact allegedly caused his car to veer towards the right, over the centre divider and onto the other side of the expressway going in the opposite direction, hitting motorcyclist Muhammad Farhan Kassim, 26, and causing his death.

He is also said to have caused hurt to Madam Tan Sien Keam, 43, who was the front-seat passenger of the car he side-swiped, in a negligent act that endangered her life and personal safety.

Lee started The Funky Chefs in 2008 with a partner, aiming to prepare French and Italian fare for people in their homes. His partner left the business last year to start his own restaurant.

Read the full report in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times

 

[Admiral Motti]

Celebrity chef charged with negligent act that killed motorcyclist
By Shaffiq Alkhatib | Posted: 21 March 2011 2325 hrs
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SINGAPORE: Celebrity chef Melvyn Lee Shang Bin, host of "Accidental Chef" which was telecast on Channel NewsAsia, was charged on Monday with a negligent act that killed a motorcyclist.

Lee, 24, allegedly failed to control his car properly when he was driving along the East Coast Parkway towards Ayer Rajah Expressway at 6pm on 18 October 2009.

His vehicle is said to have veered towards the left, hitting a car in the middle lane.

Lee's car allegedly veered one more time, went over the centre median and ended up facing the vehicles heading in the opposite direction towards Changi Airport.

In that process, the car allegedly hit a motorcyclist, 26-year-old Muhammad Farhan Kassim, who later succumbed to his injuries and died in hospital.

Lee is also accused of causing hurt to 43-year-old secretary, Tan Siew Keam, the front seat passenger of the first car he hit.

Lee will be back in court on 18 April.

If convicted of causing Mr Muhammad Farhan's death, he could be jailed up to two years, fined or both.

- CNA/ir