Singapore – Food delivery rider Tian Wei Jie will be spending Christmas in jail, instead of earning money – and possibly generous tips – delivering festive goodies to FoodPanda customers.
Tian twice crashed into pedestrians while riding power-assisted vehicles, in one case riding his e-scooter into a 77-year-old man causing him to suffer a stroke and spend more than 100 days in hospital.
He was sentenced on Tuesday and according to newspaper reports, is to report to the State Courts on Dec 7 to begin his sentence.
Had Tian not cooperated with the authorities during investigation and pleaded guilty, his punishment might have been more severe than nine weeks’ jail and a $1,500 fine.
He admitted his guilt to four charges, most serious of which was causing grievous hurt through a rash act to a 77-year-old man, for which the punishent is up to four years’ jail and a fine of as much as S$10,000. He also admitted endangering the personal safety of a 60-year-old man by punching him after riding into him, and also, riding his power-assisted bicycle on a footpath.
On March 7 this year, Tian was out on bail for the 2019 offence that felled the 77-year-old when he and his friends went drinking at a coffeeshop in Bedok North.
After leaving the beer binge, Tian rode his motor-assisted bicycle on a footpath and struck a 60-year-old man.
So you’d think that he say sorry, right? WRONG!
Reeking of alcohol, Tian abused the man, using vulgarities. When his target told Tian he shouldn’t ride in such a dangerous way, Tian shoved the 60-year-old man to the ground and punched him. The man retaliated and his daughter hit Tian with an umbrella.
The altercation ended once Tian realising that people had gathered to see what was going on, sped off on his power-assisted bicycle. His victim was injured and treated at a hospital but did not need a hospital stay.
It was in April 2020 that Tian was arrested for the 2019 offence that nearly caused the death of the elderly man he felled.
And why did Tian run into the 77-year-old? Mostly because Tian didn’t bother to stop when he checked his mobile phone while riding his motorised personal mobility device, or PMD.
That happened on Jul 7, 2019, in Bedok South Avenue 1. Tian’s recklessness caused the old man to fall and suffer a stroke. Emergency surgery saved the man;s life but he had to be hospitalised for 102 days, reported The Straits Times.
His hospital care cost more than S$46,000 but fortunately, he was fully covered by his MediShield, MediSave and insurance payouts.
Tian didn’t learn his lesson. That’s when the second incvident happened in March this year. It was in Bedok North Street 3 that Tian ran into a 60-year-old man and beat him up for telling him he was riding dangerously.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Bryont Chin said:
“When the victim replied that he should not ride in such a dangerous manner, the accused got agitated and voluntarily caused hurt to the victim… by pushing the victim onto the ground and punching him multiple times.”
Tian’s victim got two days of medical leave for the injuries and Tian has since paid for the man’s medical S$126 medical bill./TISG
Read related: PMD rider who assaulted strolling couple and said ‘it’s not your father’s road’ sent to jail
New COVID-19 bill bans all public and private social gatherings of any size