Woman charged over Singapore crash that killed Indonesian girl in Chinatown

AdvertisementSingaporeThis Week in AsiaPeopleWoman charged over Singapore crash that killed Indonesian girl in ChinatownThe lawyer for the woman, reportedly an Indian national, asked for a gag order, citing online posts that were ‘of xenophobic nature’ 2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenKolette LimPublished: 10:48am, 8 Apr 2026A 38-year-old woman has been charged over her involvement in an accident which killed a six-year-old Indonesian girl and severely injured her mother at a popular tourist district in Singapore.The woman, who cannot be named due to a gag order, was handed two charges on Wednesday. One was for driving without due care and attention causing death, and the other for driving without due care and attention causing grievous hurt. If found guilty of the first charge, she could be jailed up to three years, fined a maximum of S$10,000 (US$7,800) or both. The second charge carries a maximum sentence of two years’ jail, S$5,000 fine or both. AdvertisementOn February 6, the woman’s car allegedly struck Sheyna Lashira Smaradiani and her mother, Raisha Anindra Pascasiswi, near the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown. Singapore’s Chinatown. Sheyna and her mother were hit while crossing the road outside the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (left). Photo: AFPAccording to local media, charge sheets showed that the accused is an Indian national. AdvertisementHer defence lawyer, Navin Thevar, said in court that the gag order was needed to protect her six-year-old son, who was in the car during the accident, from public vitriol. AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x