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SINGAPORE – After sharing a bottle of red wine with a potential employer, the former head of an investment firm, Levin Lee Keng Weng, decided to drive home.
While driving down Bukit Timah Road in the left-most lane around 11 p.m. on November 28 last year, the 53-year-old lost control of his car, veered left, and crashed into construction barricades of concrete across from Balmoral Plaza.
While no pedestrians were injured and there was no damage to public property, the accident was Lee’s third drunk driving offense and earned him a lifetime ban on driving all vehicle classes.
Appearing in court on Wednesday (November 25), Lee lowered his head when the sentence was imposed, which also included 12 weeks in jail and a $ 15,000 fine.
The court heard that Lee had been convicted of driving under the influence in 2001 and 2010.
Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Koh called Lee a “serious recidivist” and urged the court to sentence Lee to at least 12 weeks in prison, a $ 15,000 fine and a lifetime ban.
His attorney, Mr. Vinit Chhabra, told the court that on the night of his last drinking offense, he was meeting with a potential employer after being out of work for a long time.
He added that his client was suffering from major depression and divorced earlier this year. “He has faced many personal challenges this year,” said Mr. Chhabra, noting that Lee was not using this as an excuse for his actions.
He also noted that his client has made “many important contributions to society,” such as donations to charities.
The court heard that Lee had gone for a drink at the Chinese Swimming Club between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. on November 28, 2019 and shared a bottle of red wine with another person.
Later he had the accident around 11.11 pm. Camera footage from Lee’s car was played in court.
Police who arrived on the scene said they noticed that Lee’s eyes were bloodshot, he smelled of alcohol, his face was flushed, and he walked unsteady.
When asked if he had consumed alcohol, Lee initially denied doing so, but a breath analyzer test detected traces of alcohol. He then admitted that he had been drinking that night.
A blood sample taken between 3.20am and 4.30am showed that the alcohol in his blood exceeded the legal limit.
In sentencing Lee, District Judge Lorraine Ho noted that there were “no special reasons” for Lee to drive and that he chose to drive to and from the club while “fully aware” that he had committed two prior offenses for driving under the influence. alcohol.
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