NUS PhD student spared jail term

[Zhuge Liang]

NUS PhD student spared jail term
By Leong Wee Keat | Posted: 01 February 2011 1836 hrs
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SINGAPORE : A PhD student from the National University of Singapore has been spared the usual jail term for a road rage offence.

This came after a High Court judge rejected an appeal by the Public Prosecutor for a stiffer sentence.

32-year-old Mohamed Feroz Mohammed Omar had been fined S$4,000 in a District Court for punching another motorist, Charles Wong Kia Choon, three times in the face on 29 November 2008.

The incident arose after Mohamed Feroz swerved his car into Mr Wong's lane, forcing him to brake.

When both drivers stopped at a traffic junction along Rochor Road in front of Albert Complex, Mr Wong, who was then 32, told Mohamed Feroz that he drove recklessly and had nearly caused an accident.

They began arguing and Mr Wong called Mohamed Feroz "scum", which then led to Mohamed Feroz hitting Mr Wong.

Deputy Public Prosecutor G Kannan had appealed against the sentence, calling it too "lenient". He also pointed out that previous road rage offenders in similar situations had been jailed.

However, defence lawyer Subhas Anandan countered that this was "not a classic road rage case" where Mohamed Feroz deliberately trailed the victim and punched him without provocation.

Mr Anandan said: "The assault may not have taken place if the victim had not uttered the word."

Further, he said Mr Wong's injuries - a bruise on his left cheek, a wound inside his lower lip and tenderness over his upper back - appeared slight and superficial. There were no medical records or pictures of the extent of the injuries, the High Court heard.

In dismissing the appeal, Justice VK Rajah said while the courts take a tough stance against road rage, it does not mean each case warrants a jail term.

He added had Mr Wong's injuries been more serious, he would have allowed the Prosecution's appeal.

Justice Rajah told Mohamed Feroz: "You are fortunate you pulled yourself back at the right time."

- CNA/al