In Singapore, a 45-year-old Malaysian man of Indian origin has been sentenced to three weeks in jail following his involvement in a bus accident. Gunaselan R Subramaniam, the bus driver, was responsible for an incident where a passenger, Tuminah Sapie, fell while disembarking from the vehicle and subsequently had her legs run over.
Tragically, Sapie, aged 74 at the time of the accident, sustained severe injuries that led to the amputation of both her legs above the knee. Subramaniam's conviction on March 8 for causing grievous harm to Sapie resulted in additional penalties, including a two-year disqualification from holding or obtaining any driving licenses post-release and a prohibition from driving any vehicles in Singapore during this period.
The unfortunate event occurred on June 24, 2019, at the departure concourse of Woodlands Checkpoint in Singapore. Subramaniam, reportedly distracted by a mobile phone call, neglected essential safety checks before commencing the journey, as Deputy Public Prosecutor Ariel Tan highlighted in court.
Sapie, the final passenger exiting the bus, recounted to District Judge Cheng Yuxi that she was standing near the rear exit's steps when she felt the bus in motion. She testified that she lost control of her body due to the sudden movement and fell from the vehicle. As a consequence, she suffered the trauma of having her legs crushed under the bus.
Rushed to the hospital, Sapie underwent amputation procedures due to the severity of her injuries, including mangled limbs, multiple fractures, and significant soft tissue damage in her groin area and left lower limb.
Subramaniam acknowledged during earlier proceedings that he had felt the bus traverse a hump shortly after closing the doors and beginning to drive. The prosecution underscored that his failure to adhere to necessary safety protocols before departure demonstrated a lack of due diligence and care, exacerbating the tragic consequences of the accident.
