A significant trial has commenced concerning a dangerous incident at the Woodlands Checkpoint, where a routine inspection for a fuel tank violation escalated into an alleged assault on an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer. The accused, Steve Ling Wei Liang, a 40-year-old Singaporean, stood trial on Monday, November 10, facing one count of causing hurt to the officer.
The charge specifies that Mr. Ling allegedly caused injury to ICA officer Mr. Tan Yi Loong by accelerating his car while the officer was caught in the window, resulting in a contusion to the officer's right knee.
The first witness to take the stand was the victim himself, Mr. Tan Yi Loong. Mr. Tan testified that he joined the ICA in 2020 and was deployed to Woodlands Checkpoint on the date of the incident, December 12, 2023. He served as a first response team officer and was the deputy team leader for his shift that day. His duties included assisting with fuel gauge checks and responding to security incidents, such as escorting persons wanted by the police.
Mr. Tan explained the standard protocol for the three-quarters-full fuel tank rule, a requirement for all Singapore-registered vehicles departing the country. He detailed that his team would typically narrow the traffic flow to one lane, slow down vehicles, and instruct drivers to wind down their windows so that officers could visually verify the fuel level in the gauge.
The core of the testimony focused on the moment the routine check turned violent. Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Quek Lu Yi asked Mr. Tan how his shift concluded on that day. Mr. Tan delivered a succinct and striking reply: "It ended with me going to hospital," specifying that this was "As a result of me being dragged by the car."
Footage of the incident, showing Mr. Tan checking a red hatchback car, was played in court. When the DPP asked Mr. Tan if he remembered the vehicle, the officer replied definitively: "It drag me before. So I remember."
Mr. Tan recounted his interaction with the driver, Mr. Ling, who was stopped because his car’s fuel tank was observed to be only about a quarter full, a clear violation of the departure rule. Mr. Tan informed Mr. Ling that he had committed a fuel gauge offense and required him to surrender his passport.
Mr. Tan testified that Mr. Ling repeatedly pleaded with him, saying, "Sir, give me chance ah, I cannot go court." As Mr. Ling was speaking, he allegedly began to drive forward, slowly "inching forward." Mr. Tan stated that he repeatedly instructed Mr. Ling to "stop the car," but the driver refused to comply, continuing to plead for leniency.
The court footage then showed the red hatchback lurching forward towards the right, with Mr. Tan still dangerously caught in the window space. Mr. Tan explained that as the vehicle accelerated, he instinctively reached out to steady himself, resulting in him grabbing the steering wheel of the car. He described the shocking moment of confrontation: "I remember when he moved the car, he was looking at me and I was looking at him." The officer found himself holding onto the steering wheel with his right hand and grabbing the driver with his left hand, noting that "we were both in shock." Mr. Tan confirmed that the driver was attempting to leave the checkpoint entirely.
The officer described the high-stress moment, saying "there were many things going on in my brain," including the fear that Mr. Ling could either continue driving and drag him along the road or cause a secondary incident by crashing into other vehicles. Mr. Ling, who appeared without legal representation, listened to this segment of the testimony from the dock, observed shaking his leg.
When asked how long the car was in motion, Mr. Tan emphasized the psychological trauma of the event: "Whoa. It felt like forever. Because there were so many unknowns." He stressed the unprecedented nature of the resistance, stating, "Nobody gets dragged - this is not normal, right. Because normally, I do my fuel gauge ops, mostly are very compliant people." Mr. Tan confirmed feeling immense relief once the vehicle finally stopped.
The trial is set to continue. If Mr. Ling is convicted of a rash act endangering human life, he faces a possible jail term of up to one year, a fine of up to S$5,000 (US$3,840), or both penalties combined.
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