SINGAPORE – Two men were charged in court on Wednesday (Nov 18) for organizing and promoting illegal bicycle races without the required police approval and permits.
Eric Khoo Shui Yan, 29, who owns a bicycle shop, and Zulkifli Awab, 39, a project manager, are accused of holding eight such races across different locations in Singapore. The races were part of a series called HolyCrit, first held in September 2013. The final race took place in November last year, after which the men were arrested.
A report in The Sunday Times last year described the races as fast and risky, with cyclists reaching speeds over 40kmh and riding without brakes. According to court documents, Khoo acted as the main organizer, while Zulkifli was the co-organizer.
The two men appeared in court with their friends and family. They are represented by lawyer Shashi Nathan. No plea was taken during the hearing. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for December. Both men were released on bail of $5,000 each.
Each man faces 16 charges—eight for promoting the races without approval and eight for conducting them without permits. The prosecution stated that it will proceed with four of these charges, while the others will be considered for sentencing.
If convicted of promoting an illegal race, they could face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. For conducting a race without a permit, the penalty is a fine of up to $1,000 or up to three months in jail for a first offence. Repeat offenders face double the punishment.
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