72-year-old Ferrari driver jailed 4 weeks for punching motorist, plans to appeal
Ferrari driver Shi Ka Yee, 72, was sentenced to four weeks’ jail and disqualification from driving for six months on Friday (16 March) for punching a motorist over a traffic dispute.
Shi was convicted of one charge of voluntarily causing hurt to BMW driver Raphael Chong Yen Ping after a two-day trial in the State Courts on 17 August last year.
Lawyer Irving Choh, who represented Shi, said his client intends to appeal against the conviction and sentence. Shi, who was wearing a dark blue blazer, white blouse and black pants, is out on bail of $16,000.
During the trial, Chong told the court that he had been waiting in his BMW car for a parking space when Shi pulled up beside him in a red Ferrari and started honking at him. Shi asked Chong to move his car but Chong told her that there was enough space for her car to pass.
Shi later stepped out of her Ferrari and snapped photos of both cars. Chong, who was in his car, had told Shi, “Don’t blame me if you are a lousy driver.” Shi responded by punching Chong’s face, which resulted in a cut above his right eyebrow.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Zhou Wenzhao had sought a jail term of at least four weeks, saying that Shi showed a lack of remorse and tried to shift responsibility to the victim. He also asked for Shi to be disqualified from driving for six months.
Choh, however, said that Chong’s car was illegally parked and his derogatory comments directed at Shi incited her to punch him. The lawyer sought a fine of between $4,000 and $5,000 to be imposed on Shi.
In February, the court accepted that Shi was suffering from depression when she punched Chong along Telok Ayer Street in 2014. But District Judge Chay Yuen Fatt said the condition was not a contributing factor to the offence.
Other outstanding charges
Earlier this week, Shi was hauled to court to face two new charges – one for drink driving and another for failing to provide a breath sample to a police officer on 1 February last year.
Shi also faces six separate charges for offences allegedly committed in 2015 and 2016. She is claiming trial to these charges.
She was charged with criminal trespass and wrongful confinement for a dispute over a tree that grew from her home into her neighbour’s property in February 2015.
In 2016, she allegedly stopped her car in the middle of Orchard Road, blocking off three out of five lanes, and was charged for causing traffic obstruction and harassment.
