A British man, 22, was angered after being awakened by a S'pore private-hire driver when he reached his destination.
He assaulted the 66-year-old driver, causing him to die a year later from a skull fracture.
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Full Case Details
Accused: Oruche Morgan Fidelis, 22, British national
Victim: Low Yik Yong, 66-year-old Singapore private-hire vehicle driver
📅 Timeline of Events
- 12 Jun 2024: Fidelis had 3 pints of beer with his boss and clients, then another 2 pints with friends and his girlfriend. At ~10:30 pm, he booked a ride from Asia Square home to Sunset Way.
- ~10:58 pm: When the car arrived, the driver found Fidelis asleep in the back seat and tried to wake him. Fidelis was angered, rushed toward the driver aggressively — CCTV showed he calmly removed his headphones first before acting — and the driver fell, hitting his head on the ground and suffering a skull fracture.
- 14 Jun 2025: The driver died, about one year after the incident.
- 15 Jul 2026: Fidelis pleaded guilty in court to an amended charge; sentencing is set for 4 Aug 2026.
⚖️ Legal Proceedings
- Original charge: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt, to which he initially pleaded not guilty.
- Charge amendment: Reduced to using criminal force under Section 350 of the Penal Code. The judge ruled that while medical evidence confirmed the skull fracture, it could not prove beyond reasonable doubt whether the injury came from being pushed, punched, or tripping — so intent to cause serious harm could not be established. The amended charge covers his aggressive act of raising his left hand toward the driver.
- Key evidence: Only surveillance footage from a nearby private residence was available; there was no direct proof of how exactly the driver fell.
📌 Penalty Reference
Using criminal force in Singapore carries a maximum of 3 months’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, and may include caning for male offenders.