A 36-year-old man, Mohamed Firdouz Mohamed Akram, was charged on June 19 with multiple offences related to a car crash in Kallang Bahru two days earlier. The charges include possession of a scheduled weapon, unauthorised possession of weapons, dangerous driving causing hurt, driving without a valid licence, driving under the influence of methamphetamine, leaving the vehicle causing obstruction, and using a vehicle without insurance [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The accident occurred at around 8 a.m. on June 17 along Kallang Bahru towards Lavender Street, when Mohamed Firdouz crashed his car into a taxi coming from the opposite direction [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The taxi driver, aged 60, and a 43-year-old female passenger were injured. Both were conscious when taken to hospital; the driver complained of chest pains and the passenger had tailbone pain [2, 3, 4, 5].
After the collision, Mohamed Firdouz abandoned his car and fled the scene before the police arrived, causing obstruction to traffic [2, 3, 4, 5]. Police said he was driving erratically leading up to the crash. Authorities arrested him within five hours on the same day, June 17, although the exact arrest location was not fully disclosed [2, 3, 4, 5].
During investigations, officers seized suspected drugs, drug paraphernalia, vaporizers, a knuckleduster, and knives. The knives were recovered from a hotel room at Village Hotel Katong where Mohamed Firdouz was arrested [2, 3, 4, 5]. His suspected drug offences have been referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau, while vape-related offences were referred to the Health Sciences Authority [2].
Possible penalties cited include up to five years in prison and caning for possession of scheduled weapons; up to three years’ jail and fines for unauthorised weapon possession; and up to one year jail and/or fines for drugged driving and causing injury by dangerous driving [2, 3, 4, 5]. The Singapore Police Force stated, "Driving under the influence of drugs is an extremely dangerous and irresponsible act," emphasising public safety concerns [2].
Mohamed Firdouz is next scheduled to appear in court on July 17 for a further mention of the case [3, 4, 5].
