'I gambled my life as much as he gambled his': Teen biker who allegedly fled from LTA officer
A teenage motorcyclist, accused of fleeing from a Land Transport Authority (LTA) enforcement officer on June 4, was on the run at the time after he allegedly consumed methamphetamine in 2023.
LTA enforcement officer, Mr Zdulfika Ahakasah, 26, died after he crashed his motorcycle during the chase near an expressway exit.
The 18-year-old motorcyclist, who appeared in court via video link on June 6, was handed six charges, including multiple traffic offences such as riding a motorcycle in a dangerous manner.
He was also charged with weapon possession and drug consumption.
He cannot be named as he was 17 years old when he allegedly consumed methamphetamine on Aug 7, 2023.
Those below 18 are protected under the Children and Young Persons Act.
On June 6, the teenager, who was unrepresented, told the court: “I gambled my life as much as he gambled his. The death, I may be one of the contributing factors for the death, but I am not to be blamed.”
A gasp could be heard from the gallery as he said those words.
A prosecutor asked the court on June 6 to not offer bail to the teenager, stressing that he absconded in October 2023 before he was to be sent to a community rehabilitation centre.
The prosecutor told the court: “It is also because of the gravity of the offence. The... dangerous driving has caused the death of the pursuing officer.”
The teenager is accused of riding a motorcycle without a valid licence on Seletar Expressway towards Bukit Timah Expressway at around 10.40am on June 4.
He allegedly failed to stop when a uniformed LTA officer ordered him to do so.
Instead, the youth allegedly rode in a dangerous manner to evade the officer by cutting across two lanes and a chevron marking of an expressway divider.
The youth is also accused of having a samurai sword in his possession in a Woodlands flat at around 6.30pm that day.
His case has been adjourned to June 20.
A video of the incident posted on the SG Road Vigilante – SGRV Facebook page shows the motorcyclist being pursued making a sudden swerve to the right and cutting into the path of a lorry. Mr Zdulfika follows closely behind before crashing his motorcycle into a road divider.
Police said they were alerted to the incident at about 10.40am.
On June 5, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said in a Facebook post he was saddened by Mr Zdulfika’s death.
He said: “Our enforcement and frontline officers perform their duties with courage and dedication.”
Mr Zdulfika’s brother, Mr Radin Ilahi Ahakasah, 47, had told The Straits Times Mr Zdulfika was excited to get married in July.
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