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SINGAPORE: The Attorney General’s Office (AGC) is in talks with the lawyer of Teo Seng Tiong, the truck driver who had spent two more days in jail.
“The matter is being discussed between AGC and Mr. Teo’s lawyer. We cannot share further details as these discussions are confidential, ”the AGC said on Thursday (September 3) in response to the CNA’s inquiries.
Teo was convicted earlier this year of diverting his truck onto a bicyclist and failing to file a police report within 24 hours of the accident.
The 59-year-old man was sentenced to seven weeks in jail and a fine of S $ 500, with an additional three days in prison if he did not pay the fine. Teo was also banned from driving for two years.
Teo paid his fine on July 20, the same day he began serving his sentence. The fine was paid in Superior Court, which notified state Courts of the payment that day, state Courts said Wednesday.
However, a judicial official did not update the case management system to reflect that Teo had paid the fine. As a result, Teo had to serve a prison sentence by default.
“While the default prison sentence imposed by the court was three days, the actual default prison sentence served by Mr. Teo was two days, as a third of the sentence was remitted,” the state courts said, and they added that he was released on August 24.
READ: State courts apologize after man served 2 additional days in jail due to officer error
Teo’s lawyer, Tan Hee Joek, told CNA on Thursday that the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) had informed him during his incarceration that the records showed an unpaid fine.
Teo told SPS that his wife had confirmed that the fine was paid, Tan said.
When SPS asked on August 21 and 22, the state courts wrongly said that Teo did not pay the fine because the case management system was not updated.
Teo’s payment was only discovered after the SPS sent a letter from his attorney on August 24, attaching the receipt.
“The state courts deeply regret what happened, and we have transmitted our letter of apology to Mr. Teo through the Attorney General’s Office,” the state courts said.
READ: Truck driver in viral collision with cyclist loses appeal, to serve jail sentence
OTHER SAFEGUARDS IMPLEMENTED
Tan said Wednesday that his client is “grateful to the courts for their prompt clarification.”
“Those two additional days were especially distressing for him as he lived in uncertainty and fear in a small cell for four,” the lawyer said.
“We understand that the Attorney General’s Office and Mr. Teo’s lawyers are already in discussions to resolve this case,” state courts said in response to the CNA on Thursday.
“Immediate steps” have been taken to review the labor processes governing fines for cases that have gone on appeal to the Superior Court, the state courts said.
They added that they have since implemented additional safeguards, such as additional levels of controls, and began an internal review of the matter, adding that “appropriate action” would be taken, including disciplinary action, depending on the outcome of the review.
Editor’s Note: This story has been corrected to reflect that while AGC said it is in discussions with Teo’s attorney, it did not specify what the discussions are about. We apologize for the error.
