Veteran criminal lawyer Steven John Lam Kuet Keng, 56, was sentenced to eight weeks’ jail, fined S$18,000, and banned from driving for six years after a drink-driving crash and lying to police about who was behind the wheel.
Lam, founder of Templars Law, had been drinking beer with friends before driving home just after midnight on April 7, 2024. While travelling along Bukit Panjang Road, his Mazda SUV veered across lanes, mounted the kerb, and crashed into nine sections of central railings, causing S$1,848 in damages.
After the crash, he tried to flee the scene by flagging down taxis, but bystanders restrained him until police arrived. Officers found him intoxicated, unsteady, and with a breath alcohol level of 61 micrograms per 100ml—nearly double the legal limit.
Lam twice lied to police, claiming an unknown “friend” had been driving, leading to a waste of police resources as officers searched the area. He repeated the lie during a later police interview, despite acknowledging as a lawyer that false statements were an offence.
Prosecutors highlighted his past record, including a previous drink-driving conviction in 2006, a speeding conviction (1999), and other traffic violations in recent years. They argued that Lam’s deception and attempts to flee warranted a stiff sentence.
His defence lawyer, Ramesh Tiwary, urged leniency, citing Lam’s 30 years of public service and volunteer work running legal clinics. Lam expressed remorse and asked for compassion.
District Judge noted his dangerous driving in a residential area, his post-crash dishonesty, and a trend of escalating risk. While acknowledging his community service, the judge ruled that his actions and professional standing made the offence more serious, saying Lam had “little choice but to plead guilty” given overwhelming evidence.
Lam began serving his jail term immediately. The Law Society of Singapore has been contacted for comment on potential disciplinary action.
Source: CNA (Lydia Lam), 7 Nov 2025.
