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5 weeks' jail, 3-year driving ban for 2 men involved in illegal race in Lim Chu Kang Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/illegal-race-in-lim-chu-kang-lands-two-men-5-weeks-jail-and-a-ban-from Goh Tze Ming (left) and Khairulanwar Ismail were given five weeks' jail and a $1,500 fine each for racing illegally.ST PHOTOS: WONG KWAI CHOW SINGAPORE - They sped down Lim Chu Kang Road in similar cars and clocked almost equal breakneck speeds in their illegal race. On Tuesday (Sept 10), Goh Tze Ming, 37, and Khairulanwar Ismail, 26, were given the same sentence - five weeks' jail and a $1,500 fine each. They will also be disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for three years after their release. The men, who were both driving a Volkswagen GTI, had denied that they were involved in the illegal race, which took place on Dec 9, 2016. The pair also similarly claimed trial against the charge of illegal racing, an offence under the Road Traffic Act. During the hearing, Goh said that he had been rushing to go to the toilet, while Khairulanwar claimed that he was speeding because he wanted to check his engine check-light. Deputy Public Prosecutor Senthilkumaran Sabapathy rubbished the claims, calling them "illogical, unsubstantiated and unbelievable". He added: "It is simply implausible and fanciful that (they) happened to be speeding, at almost twice the speed limit and right next to each other, at a place where a race was ongoing at the material time." The court heard that the two men were arrested by Traffic Police (TP) officers during a sting operation led by Inspector Pardeep Dass, who had received intelligence that there was going to be an illegal race in the area. Together with two other TP officers, Insp Pardeep arrived at the scene in an unmarked car. The officers saw people standing around 40 vehicles parked along Lim Chu Kang Road towards Neo Tiew Road. At 1.07am, the cars driven by Goh and Khairulanwar were seen making a U-turn towards Jalan Bahar before coming to a stop side by side for about 10 seconds. Insp Pardeep then saw both cars speeding off at the same time. The TP officers were activated to pursue them. Goh was caught driving at 132kmh, while Khairulanwar had clocked 136kmh - nearly twice the speed limit of 70kmh. Both men will also start their sentences on the same date - Sept 19.

Police mark 200 years: Ex-traffic cop recalls high-speed chases to nab hell riders on Lim Chu Kang '40 tiang' stretch source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ex-traffic-cop-recalls-high-speed-chases-to-nab-hell-riders As the police celebrate their 200th anniversary with an exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore, The Straits Times speaks to past and present police officers who are a part of the police force’s transformation. The retired police officer's face lit up when he spoke about police motorcycles and hell riders of the 1970s and 1980s. Senior Station Inspector 2 Nasir Said, 65, a former Traffic Police officer and trainer, recalled high-speed chases and waiting in cemeteries to ambush hell riders who raced their motorbikes along Lim Chu Kang's famed "40 tiang" stretch. Tiang in Malay means lamp-posts. The long hours of waiting meant that officers like him often became targets for blood-sucking insects, said Mr Nasir, who joined the Singapore Police Force in 1972. But his 32-year career, which was followed by another 13 years of re-employment, nearly ended prematurely. He contemplated leaving the force after the death of a squad mate in 1983 during a night escort mission. "I was very shocked," said Mr Nasir, who is one of the guides for the SPF200 exhibition at the National Museum Singapore. "He was close to me... we were brought up together. He was the one who had encouraged me to join the mobile squad." Mr Nasir had been leading the escort of a small RSAF aircraft when his colleague at the rear of the convoy hit a divider and crashed into one of the airplane's wings. The officer, who was from the same village in Jalan Kubis (now Ubi) as Mr Nasir, died of a broken rib puncturing his heart before he arrived at the hospital. But Mr Nasir did not know then as there was no physical bleeding. After being told of his friend's death at the hospital, he became distraught and was unable to convey news of the accident to the man's family. Mr Nasir's senior officers understood his predicament and allowed him to take a break during that difficult time. Till this day, he is grateful and said he cannot forget the support from his family members and supervisors.