Biker without licence dies after accident with lorry -- while riding on bike bought under friend's name

A 25-year-old man without a motorcycle licence bought a bike under his friend’s name, but died in an accident involving a lorry, barely a month later. 

The fatal accident happened on Sep 21, 2015 on the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) towards Changi. 

The friend who provided his particulars for the motorbike insurance has since been fined S$2,500 and sentenced to one week imprisonment, with his various licences revoked for 14 months, reports Lianhe Wanbao via Lianhe Zaobao. 

According to the deceased’s parents, their only son was on his way to his Ubi office during the time of the accident.

His friend had passed by the site of the accident and decided to take a look. 

Realising the licence plate of the wrecked vehicle belonged to the deceased, he immediately informed his family about the situation. 

After the accident, police officers discovered that the deceased did not have a licence, while the vehicle on which the deceased had ridden on at the time of the accident belonged to a 26-year-old friend.

Further investigations revealed that the bike had been purchased under the deceased’s friend’s name, who had allowed the deceased to use his particulars, under the knowledge that he did not possess a licence and was uninsured. 

When officers interrogated him, the deceased’s friend claimed that he was innocent, but later confessed to his crimes.

He faced a total of 3 charges and was sentenced on Monday (Jun 19) after pleading guilty. 

Court documents revealed that the accused and deceased had been friends for more than 10 years.

The deceased did not have a licence, but frequently rode. 

In Aug 2015, the deceased wanted to buy a motorbike but did not possess a licence.

The two thus came to an agreement that the vehicle would be purchased under the accused’s name, with all expenses bore by the deceased.

The purchased vehicle would belong to the accused only in name, while the deceased would use it most of the time.  

Although the accused borrowed the motorcycle occasionally, he would return the bike to the deceased after.

When he was summoned by the Traffic Police for questioning after the accident, he initially lied that he had not agreed to the deceased using his motorbike.

However, after a few months, he admitted to giving a false account of the incident.