An enforcement officer who was caught on camera kicking a PMD rider off his device along Bedok Reservoir Road has been suspended from active duty and is set to face a disciplinary inquiry.
A video capturing the incident began circulating online on 10 Dec and is going viral on Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram. The video, which was taken by a vehicle’s dashboard camera, shows four enforcement officers wearing high-visibility vests in pursuit of an e-scooter rider who was riding along the left-most lane of the road.
As the PMD rider approaches a traffic junction, one officer rushes forward and kicks the oncoming PMD rider, sending him flying off his device and crashing into the nearby sidewalk. The rider can be seen getting up momentarily before falling down again in the viral video:
The Land Transport Authority – a statutory board under the Transport Ministry – has since revealed that the enforcement officer is a Certis Cisco Auxiliary Police Officer (APO) who was contracted by the LTA to carry out enforcement duties.
Sharing details into the background of the incident, the LTA said that its own enforcement officers and Certis Cisco APOs were conducting enforcement duties along Bedok Reservoir Road around 6.40pm on Tuesday when they noticed a PMD rider speeding on the road. It is illegal for PMD riders to use roads or public footpaths.
A Certis spokesman revealed: “The rider ignored repeated instructions from the officers to stop as his actions could cause serious injuries to members of the public or himself. A Certis Cisco officer who was stationed at the next junction resorted to kicking his device when the rider refused to stop.”
Both the APO and the PMD rider suffered injuries. While there are rumours circulating online that the rider may have died or suffered head injuries and broken bones, Certis clarified that the “rider suffered abrasions on his right elbow and right knee and received medical attention from paramedics at the scene.”
The APO, who was also injured, was treated at the site and conveyed to a hospital for further medical assistance, according to Certis.
Certis has since suspended the APO from active duty and is set to convene a disciplinary inquiry into the incident. Revealing that the police is also investigating the case, the Certis spokesman said:
“Established enforcement protocols require officers to note down the appearance of the escaping PMD user as accurately as possible, and lodge a report with LTA. Certis has a zero-tolerance policy against rash acts and will not hesitate to take stern action against officers who are found to be in breach of protocol.”
The LTA, which said that it “does not condone any behaviour that deviates from the established rules of engagement” in enforcement operations, added that it is investigating offences committed by the PMD rider and has impounded his device.
Revealing that the PMD weighed 30kg, which is above the legal limit of 20kg, the LTA said that the PMD rider’s offences “include riding an unregistered and non-compliant PMD on public roads, and failing to stop his device when required by an officer.”