Edmund Chen completes one-day jail term after High Court cuts sentence over expressway collision

Former local actor Edmund Chen completed his one-day jail term at Changi Prison after the High Court reduced his original five-day sentence, ruling that the punishment imposed by a lower court was manifestly excessive over a traffic collision that seriously injured a motorcyclist.

The 64-year-old, whose real name is Tan Kai Yuan, was released at about 9.40pm on 20 July 2026 after serving the revised sentence handed down earlier the same day.

The High Court upheld his conviction for driving without reasonable consideration for other road users causing grievous hurt and left intact the five-year driving disqualification imposed by the State Courts.

High Court finds original sentence excessive

Justice Hri Kumar Nair allowed Chen's appeal in part, concluding that the district judge had overstated the applicable harm and culpability factors while failing to give sufficient weight to mitigating circumstances.

According to state media CNA, the judge found that Chen had done all that could reasonably be expected after the collision by stopping his vehicle promptly, assisting the injured motorcyclist and cooperating fully with the authorities.

Justice Hri Kumar said those mitigating factors deserved greater consideration during sentencing.

He also found that the lower court's assessment had exaggerated the number of relevant harm and culpability factors, leading to a custodial sentence that was "manifestly excessive".

As a result, Chen's jail term was reduced from five days to one day, although the five-year driving ban remains in force.

Appeal centred on sentencing

During the appeal, Senior Counsel Abraham Vergis urged the High Court to replace the custodial sentence with the maximum fine of S$5,000.

He argued that the lower court had incorrectly assessed the dashcam footage and that the motorcyclist's injuries, while serious, did not justify imprisonment.

Vergis also submitted that the victim's injuries were confined to his hands and wrist, the surgery was not complex, and no permanent injuries were sustained.

He further told the court that Chen had suffered severe psychological trauma following the collision and might never drive again.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Ben Mathias maintained that a substantial fine remained the prosecution's preferred sentence, but argued that the five-day jail term imposed by the lower court was not manifestly excessive because it fell within the applicable sentencing range.

Describing the matter as "a borderline case", Tan said the sentencing framework could reasonably result in either a high fine or a short custodial sentence.

Collision on Ayer Rajah Expressway

The collision occurred at about noon on 4 March 2025 along the Ayer Rajah Expressway towards the Central Expressway.

Court documents showed that Chen slowed unnecessarily, almost coming to a stop, before making an abrupt lane change to his right after failing to position his vehicle in time for his intended exit.

He failed to keep a proper lookout, resulting in a collision with a motorcycle travelling behind him.

The 21-year-old rider suffered multiple fractures to his right hand and wrist, underwent surgery and was granted 99 days of hospitalisation leave.

The court heard that the rider did not suffer permanent injuries.

After the collision, Chen stopped immediately, rendered assistance to the injured motorcyclist and cooperated fully with investigators.

He later pleaded guilty to one charge of driving without reasonable consideration for other road users causing grievous hurt.

On 29 January 2026, the State Courts sentenced him to five days' imprisonment and disqualified him from driving for five years.

Chen appealed against the sentence shortly afterwards, with the High Court granting a stay of execution pending the outcome of the appeal. His bail was increased from S$10,000 to S$15,000.

In March, the State Courts also approved his applications for a bail extension and permission to travel overseas for business and to attend his son Chen Xi's wedding in Japan.

Chen expresses regret after release

Speaking to Lianhe Zaobao after leaving Changi Prison, Chen expressed remorse over the incident.

"I feel regretful," he said.

"Luckily, the rider is in the process of recovering. I would like to apologise to him and his family members. I have also learned from this experience that I shouldn't lower my guard down when driving."

The Chinese daily reported that Chen was picked up outside the prison by a young man wearing a baseball cap and face mask, believed to be his son, Chen Xi.

A young woman believed to be his daughter, Yixin, was also in the vehicle. She moved to the rear seat as Chen approached, allowing him to take the front passenger seat before the family departed.

Under Singapore law, the offence of driving without reasonable consideration for other road users causing grievous hurt carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.