SINGAPORE: A man who was leaving Woodlands Checkpoint was stopped by an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer who noticed that his car’s fuel tank was only a quarter full.
This was in violation of the rule requiring vehicles leaving Singapore to have their fuel tanks at least three-quarters full.
When the ICA officer asked the driver, Steve Ling Wei Liang, to provide his passport, Ling allegedly drove off with the officer still caught in his window, injuring him.
Ling, a 40-year-old Singaporean, went on trial on Monday (Nov 10) for one count of causing hurt to Mr Tan Yi Loong by stepping on the accelerator and dragging him along his car, causing a right knee contusion.
The first prosecution witness who took the stand was Mr Tan, the victim.
He joined ICA in 2020 and was at Woodlands Checkpoint on Dec 12, 2023 as a first response team officer.
Mr Tan said he was deployed as a “departure car officer” and was the deputy team leader that day.
He said his duties included assisting in fuel gauge checks and anything related to security incidents, such as escorting people who are wanted by the police.
Explaining the fuel gauge operation, Mr Tan said officers are to check on vehicles departing Singapore to see if they have fulfilled the requirement to have a tank that is at least three-quarters full.
He explained that his team would minimise traffic to one lane, slow down the vehicles and ask the drivers to wind down their windows so that the officers could check the fuel gauges.
