Katong road rage incident: Cyclist gets 5-day short detention order

SINGAPORE: A cyclist who jumped onto the bonnet of a car after an altercation with the driver was sentenced to a short detention order (SDO) of five days on Thursday (Oct 17). 

Nicolette Tan Shi-en, a 33-year-old Singaporean lawyer, had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of intentionally harassing driver Elaine Michele Ow, 49, with a charge of obstructing the road taken into consideration for sentencing.

An SDO is a community-based sentence that detains an offender in prison for not more than 14 days. It is supposed to act as a deterrent by allowing an offender to experience prison life but does not leave a criminal record.

The dispute between Tan and Ow on Jun 2, 2023 went viral after footage of the confrontation emerged online. 

Video clips of the incident showed Tan tailing Ow's car after feeling Ow had driven too close to her at a bend.

 Tan caught up with Ow at a red light at the traffic junction of East Coast Road and Joo Chiat Road and blocked Ow from moving ahead.

She then questioned Ow about her "behaviour" and alleged that she had almost been knocked down.

Ow apologised and repeatedly said she needed to get to a cooking class she was due to teach. 

In the ensuing altercation, Tan jumped onto the car bonnet and Ow drove off. She got off only at the entrance of the car park to i12 Katong mall. 

Tan's sentencing was delayed after her lawyers revealed that their client had been diagnosed with a brain tumour shortly after the incident. 

Tan's lawyers from Allen & Gledhill revealed that she was diagnosed with a brain tumour shortly after the incident, and cited an expert who said the onset of the tumour likely predates the altercation and could have influenced her behaviour.

Ref: Katong road rage incident: Cyclist gets 5-day short detention order (cna)