by Elena Chong
AN INDIAN national who caused the deaths of four passengers when he rammed his lorry into a parked trailer in Tuas two years ago, was jailed for 30 months on Tuesday.
Ramaiah Raja, 32, will be banned from driving for 15 years, upon his release from prison.
He pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of colleagues Rabiul Alam Shorab Hossein, 25, Mahbub Mofizur Rahman, 34, Aowlad Hossain Abul Hossain, 25, all Bangaldeshi nationals, and Pitchaiah Govindaraj, 30, an Indian national, by doing a rash act along Gul Road on May 18, 2009. He had failed to keep a proper lookout and was travelling at a speed of 87kmh - which exceeded the 50kmh-limit - when he hit the rear right side of a stationary prime mover attached with a trailer at about 4.05am.
Ramaiah, then a marine trades worker with Hi-Tech NDT Inspection Services, was ferrying nine people to work at Keppel FELS nearby when the accident happened. Three men died on the spot while the other died in hospital.
Ramaiah, now unemployed, and five others were injured. Two other charges of causing grievous hurt and causing hurt by doing an act so rashly as to endanger life, were taken into consideration during his sentencing.
District Judge Hamidah Ibrahim said this was one of the worst cases of rash acts. Ramaiah could have been jailed for up to five years and fined for causing death by doing a rash act.
FT again.