Driver in Singapore pleads guilty for seat-swapping

A 36-year-old man named Yuen Zheng Wen has pleaded guilty to careless driving and obstructing justice after a driving incident in Singapore. On February 16, 2024, Yuen lost control of his car and crashed into a traffic light pole. He had been drinking before the incident. After the crash, Yuen agreed to swap seats with his passenger, Chin Wei Yeeng, 31, so she could take the blame. She told police she was driving and had only one glass of wine. Yuen supported her story. Police tested Chin’s breath, which showed she was over the legal limit, but did not test Yuen because they thought he was not the driver. Yuen later felt guilty about the deception. He turned himself in and confessed to being the driver the day after the incident. The crash caused about S$991.57 (US$741) in damages to the traffic light pole. Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of five to eight weeks and a 24-month driving ban for Yuen. They argue that the false claims made it impossible for police to gather evidence against him. Yuen's lawyer said he did not start the idea of swapping seats, although he went along with it. Yuen's sentencing is scheduled for April 17, 2025. Meanwhile, Chin is facing charges of providing false information and obstructing justice, with her case also set for April 17.