SINGAPORE, Nov 10 — A Singaporean man went on trial today for allegedly dragging an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer with his car during a fuel tank inspection at Woodlands Checkpoint, CNA reported.

According to the Singapore-based media organisation, 40-year-old Steve Ling Wei Liang faces a charge of causing hurt by driving off with ICA officer Tan Yi Loong caught in his car window. 

The incident occurred on December 12, 2023, after Ling’s vehicle was found to have a fuel tank only a quarter full — below the required three-quarters level for vehicles leaving Singapore.

Tan, who joined ICA in 2020 and was the deputy team leader that day, testified that he was deployed as a “departure car officer” responsible for checking vehicles’ fuel gauges. 

When Ling’s car was stopped, he said the driver refused to comply and repeatedly asked for leniency, telling him, “Sir, give me chance ah, I cannot go court.”

Footage of the encounter played in court showed Tan beside a red hatchback before it suddenly lurched forward. 

“It drag me before. So I remember,” Tan told the court when asked how he recognised the car.

He said that as the car moved, he instinctively reached out to steady himself and ended up holding the steering wheel. 

“I remember when he moved the car, he was looking at me and I was looking at him,” he said, describing how both men were in shock as the vehicle moved forward.

The officer said he feared being dragged or crashing into other vehicles, adding that the ordeal felt like “forever” before the car finally stopped.

Ling, who is representing himself, was seen shaking his leg in the dock during the testimony.

If found guilty of committing a rash act endangering human life, Ling faces up to a year in jail, a fine of up to S$5,000 (RM16,000), or both, according to CNA.