SINGAPORE — A 19-year-old teenager has been sentenced to seven months’ jail following a tragic motorcycle chase that resulted in the death of Land Transport Authority (LTA) officer, Zdulfika Ahakasah, 26. The incident occurred on 4 June 2024, when the youth dangerously sped along the Seletar Expressway to evade an LTA enforcement officer.
In a session presided over by Deputy Principal District Judge Kessler Soh, the court heard how the teenager had been signalled to stop but accelerated instead, causing Zdulfika to crash his motorcycle during the pursuit. The officer later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Series of Offences
During the proceedings, the teenager admitted to multiple charges, including dangerous riding and drug consumption, leading to a total of one year and 15 months’ imprisonment, paired with six strokes of the cane. He was also disqualified from holding any driving licence for five years post-release.
Lack of Remorse
Deputy Public Prosecutor Thaddeus Tan highlighted the youth’s persistent offending, mentioning he had committed 13 crimes in a span of just 10 months. The teen’s lack of remorse was particularly evident, as he deflected blame when first brought before the courts. In a striking statement, he remarked, “I gambled my life as much as he gambled his… I may be one of the contributing factors for the death, but I am not to be blamed.”
Defence Argument
During mitigation, defence counsel Foo Ho Chew expressed that the teenager acknowledged the insensitivity of his earlier comments and extended his condolences to Zdulfika’s family.