Actor Gurmit Singh Fined RM2,400 For Speeding At 131KM/H While Testing His Vehicle
The actor is believed to be driving a newly released Audi A8 L, which can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds and boasts a top speed of 250km/h.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 08 Jun 2021, 05:05 PM
Singaporean actor and comedian Gurmit Singh was fined SGD800 (about RM2,490) for speeding on a Singaporean road
According to CNA, the court also banned Gurmit from driving for three months during the proceedings today, 8 June.
The actor — best known for playing Phua Chu Kang in a popular sitcom in the late 1990s — pleaded guilty to his offence under Section 63(4) of the Road Traffic Act.
The court heard that Gurmit was driving his vehicle along Woodlands Avenue 12 towards Seletar Expressway on 12 April, reported TODAYOnline.
The offence took place at about 9.30pm. The actor was driving at a speed of 131km/h when the speed limit of the road was 70km/h.
He was unrepresented during the court session.
The actor explained that he was driving to fetch his son from the workplace he was interning at before suddenly hearing a "flapping sound" from his vehicle
"I know I drove fast but I have a story to tell... I was driving to get my son from his internship workplace and I noticed a flapping sound from the car," he told District Judge Salina Ishak.
After picking up his son, he said he wanted his son to hear the same sound the vehicle made, which he said only "comes out at 100km/h".
"I'm not saying I should drive at that speed on that street but it was just a short spurt. I don't know how I clocked 131km/h. I'm not a reckless driver, it was just a one-off thing."
"But again, I realise I should not be driving so fast at that stretch of road."
The Straits Time reported that Gurmit's vehicle is believed to be an Audi A8 L, a luxury sedan that was recently released.
Audi Singapore's official website states that the starting price of the vehicle is SGD483,449 (about RM1.5 million). It can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in about 5.7 seconds and has a top speed of 250km/h.
Although Gurmit had no prior conviction, the prosecutor urged the court to impose a driving ban on him
District Judge Salina Ishak told him that he could have put his son's life in danger, as well as his own.
"I understand, your honour. I regret doing what I did," CNA quoted Gurmit as saying.
Gurmit appeared in court dressed in a grey shirt and blue disposable mask. He said his wife drove him to the hearing today.
The 56-year-old actor recently made headlines after reprising his old role from the Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd series to make public service announcement (PSA) videos for the Singaporean government amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was a full-time Mediacorp artiste from 1994 to 2014 before announcing his retirement from acting in order to spend more time with his family, reported TODAYOnline.
