SINGAPORE: In a bizarre turn of events, a man named Yuen Zheng Wen, 36, found himself pleading guilty this week after a reckless decision led him to crash his vehicle into a traffic light pole.

The collision, which occurred on February 16, 2024, came after Yuen had consumed several glasses of red wine during a dinner with colleagues.

The incident escalated when Yuen, in an unbelievable attempt to dodge responsibility, swapped seats with his passenger, 31-year-old Chin Wei Yeeng, thinking she would take the fall for the accident.

Instead of facing the consequences of his actions, Yuen allowed Chin to take the blame when traffic police arrived at the scene.

Court documents reveal that Yuen's night began innocently enough, with a dinner that spiraled into chaos after he offered Chin a ride home.

However, just moments after leaving the restaurant around 10:35 PM, Yuen lost control of his vehicle while making a turn onto the Central Expressway, causing his car to mount the kerb and crash into a traffic light pole.

The damage from the incident set back local authorities a hefty S$991.57 (approximately US$741) for repairs.

After the crash, it was Chin who suggested the outrageous plan to switch seats, a decision that would later land both in trouble.

When questioned by law enforcement, both parties maintained the false narrative, with Chin claiming she had consumed only one glass of wine and was driving, while Yuen backed her story.

This deception resulted in a breathalyzer test being conducted solely on Chin, which she failed.

Meanwhile, Yuen walked away from the scene unharmed and untested.

However, a change of heart led Yuen to confess to the police just one day later, revealing that he was indeed the driver behind the wheel at the time of the incident.

The serious nature of their cover-up conspiracy prompted Deputy Public Prosecutor Ryan Lim to push for a significant penalty, requesting he serve between five to eight weeks in prison and face a 24-month driving disqualification.

Lim stated the gravity of the actions taken to obstruct justice was substantial, especially considering it had prevented the police from adequately testing for alcohol in Yuen's system.

In contrast, Yuen's defense attorney, Devlin Mohyong, argued for leniency, indicating that while Yuen's actions were wrong, the idea to swap seats originated from Chin.

Regardless, Lim maintained that even if the intent was not financially motivated, Yuen should still be held accountable for allowing the misrepresentation.

As of now, sentencing for Yuen has been postponed until April 17, 2024, as the court grapples with the implications of this shocking seat-swap saga.

This incident underscores a serious message about responsibility and the consequences of attempting to deceive law enforcement – an act that can ultimately lead to harsher repercussions.

Stay tuned for more developments as this dramatic case unfolds!