Former actor Edmund Chen had his five-day jail sentence reduced to one day by the High Court on 20 July 2026.
The 64-year-old was taken into custody after the hearing to serve the sentence.
However, Chen did not succeed in his attempt to avoid prison completely. His five-year disqualification from driving also remains in place.
Why the High Court Reduced His Sentence
Justice Hri Kumar Nair found that the original five-day jail term was “manifestly excessive”.
The judge said the lower court had assessed the harm caused and Chen’s level of culpability too severely.
The High Court also found that insufficient weight had been given to mitigating factors, including Chen stopping immediately after the accident and getting out of his car to assist the injured motorcyclist.
However, Justice Nair was unable to conclude that the district judge had been wrong to find that the custodial threshold had been crossed.
The “custodial threshold” simply refers to the point at which an offence is serious enough to justify imprisonment, instead of only a fine.
This means Chen’s appeal was successful only in reducing the length of his sentence. The High Court did not agree that the jail term should be removed entirely.
Both the Prosecution and Defence Had Asked for a Fine
Chen’s lawyer had asked the High Court to replace the jail term with the maximum fine of S$5,000.
He argued that the circumstances of the accident were not serious enough to warrant imprisonment.
The prosecution also maintained that Chen should receive a fine of up to S$5,000, together with a five-year driving ban.
This was similar to what happened during Chen’s original sentencing in January. Both the prosecution and his previous lawyers had asked for a fine, but District Judge Shawn Ho disagreed and sentenced him to five days in jail.
During the appeal, Chen’s lawyer argued that the motorcyclist’s fractures were localised in his hand and wrist rather than in a more vulnerable part of the body.
The victim was hospitalised for two days, underwent surgery and received 99 days of hospitalisation leave. He did not suffer any permanent disability.
Nevertheless, the High Court decided that some imprisonment was still warranted and reduced the term to one day.
What Happened During the Accident
The accident occurred at about noon on 4 March 2025 along the Ayer Rajah Expressway towards the Central Expressway.
Chen was travelling in the fourth lane as he approached a road split. The two left lanes led towards Keppel Road, while the other lanes led towards the CTE and Seletar Expressway.
He had intended to travel towards the CTE but had not moved into the correct lane in time.
Chen then braked abruptly, slowing his car almost to a complete stop, before attempting to filter across the lanes.
A 21-year-old motorcyclist approaching from behind was unable to avoid Chen’s vehicle and collided with its rear left portion.
Chen stopped after the collision and assisted the rider, who was taken to Singapore General Hospital with multiple fractures in his right hand and wrist.
Why the Original Judge Ordered Jail
When sentencing Chen in January, District Judge Shawn Ho found that the offence involved a high degree of carelessness and more than a momentary lapse in concentration.
The judge said Chen should have continued towards Keppel Road and used another route instead of trying to force his way across at the expressway split.
He also found that Chen had violated traffic safety rules designed to prevent high-speed collisions.
Chen pleaded guilty to driving without reasonable consideration for other road users and causing grievous hurt.
The offence carries a maximum punishment of two years’ jail, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.
Following the High Court’s decision, Chen will serve one day in jail while remaining disqualified from driving for five years.
