The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has filed two appeals in the case of a British man who assaulted a private-hire vehicle (PHV) driver, who later died.
It described the sentence received by 23-year-old Oruche Morgan Fidelis as “manifestly inadequate”, reported The Straits Times (ST).
Source: Google Maps
On Wednesday (9 Sept), AGC said it had filed two appeals against the State Courts’ decisions regarding the case.
The first appeal, lodged on 27 July, was over District Judge John Ng’s decision to amend Fidelis’ charge to one of assault.
Fidelis was initially charged with voluntarily causing hurt which causes grievous hurt — which carries a jail term of up to five years and/or a fine of up to S$10,000 — but he claimed trial.
The charge was then lowered on 15 July to assault — which carries a jail term of up to three months and/or a fine of up to S$1,500.
He was then convicted of assault.
AGC’s second appeal, lodged on Tuesday (8 Sept), concerns the sentence Fidelis received, which was “manifestly inadequate”, AGC said.
On Monday (7 Sept), he was sentenced to a five-day short detention order (SDO). An SDO requires the offender to be detained in prison, but will not leave a criminal record.
He was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service within a year, under the supervision of an officer.
Fidelis had been drinking at a pub along Circular Road, and later at a bar in Marina Bay, on 12 June 2024 before booking a Grab ride home.
When the vehicle, driven by 66-year-old Mr Low Ek Yong, reached his home at about 11pm, he was found asleep in the back seat.
The PHV driver tried to wake him up by shaking him, but the Briton became angry, rushed at him and shoved him, according to prosecutors.
Mr Low fell to the ground, suffering a fractured skull and a brain injury.
He ended up in a minimally conscious state, unable to move on command or respond to external stimuli.
Source: Kelvin Lam on Facebook
He died a year after the incident from heart disease and large bowel obstruction, having never regained consciousness and thus unable to tell his side of the story.
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Featured image adapted from Google Maps and Kelvin Lam on Facebook.