A MARINE inspector who fell off from a motorcycle while riding pillion had been drinking before the accident, a coroner's court heard on Tuesday.

Mr Ashizam Karim, 25, had also just returned from an overseas trip to Poland where he had been working.

The accident took place along Jurong West Street 42 at about 2:40am on Sept 29 last year.

At Tuesday's inquiry into his death, the motorcyclist, dispatch rider Iskandar Mirza Jafry, 20, was named a potential defendant. But he had nothing to say when cautioned by State Coroner Earnest Lau.

Investigation showed that on Sept 28 at about 10pm, Mr Ashizam had a bottle of Guinness stout and other cold drinks at the coffeeshop below his block at Jurong West Street 52 while Mr Iskandar drank a few cups of coffee.

About 1 1/2 hours later, the two left to meet their friends at Block 414 Jurong West 42.

Mr Iskandar took Mr Ashizam home at about 1:15am to get his wallet.

At about 2am while the duo were on their way to rejoin their friends, Mr Iskandar claimed that suddenly he felt his friend fall off from his motorcycle on his own. He was then negotiating a right bend when he lost control and skidded.

Mr Iskandar told police that he panicked when he saw Mr Ashizam lying on the road behind his motorcycle, causing him to lose control and skid.

Mr Ashizam was taken to hospital where he died from extensive lung and head injuries.

His 124mg/100ml ethanol in his body could have caused him to be drunk and sleepy, said Traffic Police Department's senior staff sergeant Colin Ong, in his investigation report.

State Coroner Earnest Lau recorded a verdict of misadventure on Mr Ashizam's death.