A NEWSPAPER editor was sentenced to 18 months jail on Thursday for maiming a motorcyclist and causing the death of his pillion rider on Christmas Eve two years ago.
Lim Hong Eng, 56, of Shin Min Daily News, was jailed 18 months for causing the death of pillion rider Melania Melaniawati, 24, and six months for grievously hurting the Indonesian maid's employer David Jermais Pattiselanno.
The sentences will run concurrently. She could have been jailed up to five years and fined.
Her lawyer Subhas Anandan said the sentences were 'manifestly excessive' and served notice to appeal.
Lim was granted $20,000 bail on the two charges.
She also faces another charge of driving while using a cellphone, for which a pre-trial conference will be held on Sept 11. Bail of $3,000 was given for this count.
On that rainy Christmas Eve in 2006, Lim's car hit Mr Pattiselanno's motorcycle at the junction of Whitley and Dunearn roads.
Mr Pattiselanno, 70, had stopped along Dunearn Road to wait for the lights to change before proceeding to buy festive goodies.
When he tried to move forward, his motorbike was hit by Lim's Toyota Wish multi-purpose vehicle.
The impact flung him off his machine and he broke his leg. The retiree still needs crutches today to move about.
DPP Ng had, during the trial, told the court that Lim ran a red light and hit the motorcycle. She also failed to keep a proper lookout.
He added that Lim was also on her cellphone while driving.
A witness had testified that she saw Lim with her left hand to the side of her face, and that Lim was holding her cellphone when she emerged from her car after the crash and made a call.
The witness called the police at 3.48pm. Telephone records show that Lim called her son at home at around that time.
Lim denied beating the lights and using a phone. She claimed she had raised her hand to her cheek as she was in a state of shock.
She also denied being in a hurry, but DPP Ng said Lim had told the court she had a spa appointment at Raffles Town Club at 3.45pm.
She was, therefore, probably concerned about being late.
