Muhammad Fahmi Johari was sentenced on May 11 to 4 weeks in jail and fined $6,000 after pleading guilty to driving while under the influence of drugs and intoxicating substances, and to causing grievous hurt while driving without due care and attention. He was also barred from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licences for 6 years from May 11. [1, 2, 3]
Fahmi, 40, was a private-hire driver when he drove after taking unprescribed medication, including cough syrup, in June 2022. He admitted consuming about 90ml of cough syrup on the evening of June 19, then began driving around 10pm on June 20 and made four pick-ups. [1, 2, 3]
He later lost control of the car at about 3.30am on June 21 along Yishun Central. The vehicle hit a centre divider, mounted a kerb, travelled along the divider and stopped at a bus stop. A blood sample later found more than 15 substances, including codeine, diazepam and pseudoephedrine. [1, 2, 3]
In a separate 2023 collision while he was driving a second car, the other driver suffered a fractured little finger. Fahmi was convicted over that crash as well as the drug-related driving offence from 2022. [1, 2, 3]
A Health Sciences Authority doctor told the court that co-administration of the drugs may potentiate sedation. The doctor said toxicology results alone may not predict driving impairment and should be considered with observations at the scene when assessing a driver's condition at the time of a crash. [1]
The six-year driving ban takes effect from May 11. [1, 2, 3]
