A 36-year-old Singaporean motorcyclist, Ronald Koh, is facing seven charges following a violent road dispute along the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) that left a man’s son with part of his ear bitten off. Koh is contesting two of the charges: voluntarily causing hurt and voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
The alleged incident took place on 26 February 2024 around 2 p.m. near the Sims Way exit towards Changi. Court documents reveal that Koh allegedly struck 63-year-old renovation contractor Quak Beng Gim on the lower back, stepped on his left foot, and bit the upper outer portion of Quak’s son, Fabian Quak Wei Quan, who is in his 20s.
During his testimony, Mr Quak recounted that he had been driving his Lexus in the fourth lane of the PIE when a lorry honked at the motorcyclist. Koh then moved ahead of their vehicle, prompting Mr Quak to honk in response. The motorcyclist allegedly made repeated hand gestures, escalating tensions.
The father pulled over to the road shoulder while instructing his son to remain inside. However, when Fabian stepped out to confront Koh, an exchange of vulgarities reportedly occurred, and a physical struggle ensued on the grassy verge beside the highway. During the scuffle, Fabian sustained a severe bite to his left ear. The injured portion was later recovered near a roadside drain, wrapped in tissue, and both father and son were treated at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. Mr Quak later discovered bruising on his own torso and swelling on his foot, resulting in two days’ medical leave.
Koh, representing himself in court, disputed the Quaks’ account. He claimed he was attacked by both father and son, suffered helmet and clothing damage, and alleged he bit down on “appendages” that were pushed into his mouth, denying any intentional act to sever the ear.
If found guilty of voluntarily causing grievous hurt, Koh faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a possible fine, and caning. Conviction for voluntarily causing hurt carries a maximum of three years’ jail, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both. The trial, which began on 10 February, is ongoing, with Koh conducting his own cross-examination.
