Indian-origin bus driver jailed in Singapore for running over passenger's legs

A 45-year-old Indian-origin Malaysian man was sentenced to three weeks in jail on Friday for his role in a bus accident in Singapore.

The incident occurred when the bus driver, Gunaselan R Subramaniam, ran over a passenger's legs after she fell while alighting from the vehicle.

The victim, Tuminah Sapie, 74 at the time, suffered severe injuries, leading to both her limbs being amputated above the knee.

Following his conviction on March 8 for causing grievous hurt to Sapie, Subramaniam was also disqualified from holding or obtaining any driving licences for two years after his release.

Additionally, he was barred from driving any vehicles in Singapore for the same duration.

The incident took place on June 24, 2019, at the Woodlands Checkpoint departure concourse in Singapore.

Subramaniam failed to conduct necessary safety checks before driving off, as he was reportedly talking on his mobile phone, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ariel Tan told the court.

Sapie, the last passenger to exit the bus, told District Judge Cheng Yuxi that she was standing on the steps near the rear exit of the vehicle when she felt it moving.

She had testified that she could not control her body when the bus moved suddenly and fell out of the vehicle.

She suffered mangled limbs, multiple fractures, and "degloving" injuries in her groin area and left lower limb, necessitating the amputation of both legs above the knees.

Subramaniam admitted during earlier proceedings that he felt the bus going over a hump after he closed the doors and drove off a short distance.

The prosecutor emphasised that Subramaniam failed to meet the required standard of care by neglecting necessary safety checks before driving off.