Culture

Actor Zong Zijie Fined S$800, Banned from Driving for Speeding

The 29-year-old Singapore permanent resident admitted to driving 51kmh over the limit due to being late.

3 min
Actor Zong Zijie Fined S$800, Banned from Driving for Speeding
The 29-year-old Singapore permanent resident admitted to driving 51kmh over the limit due to being late.Credit · CNA

Key facts

  • Actor Zong Zijie fined S$800 on May 6.
  • Zong Zijie banned from driving for one month.
  • Speeding offence occurred on August 23, 2025.
  • Drove at 121kmh on West Coast Highway.
  • Speed limit on the highway was 70kmh.
  • Drove 51kmh over the speed limit.
  • Zong Zijie has three prior speeding violations.

Actor Penalised for Excessive Speeding

Actor Zong Zijie has been fined S$800 and disqualified from driving for one month after admitting to a serious speeding offence. The penalty was handed down on Wednesday, May 6, for an incident that occurred on August 23, 2025. Zong, a 29-year-old Chinese national and Singapore permanent resident, pleaded guilty to driving at a speed of 121 kilometres per hour along West Coast Highway, a stretch of road with a posted limit of 70 kilometres per hour. The significant difference between his speed and the legal limit, 51 kilometres per hour over, drew the attention of the court. This was compounded by a history of previous traffic violations, including three prior speeding offences in April 2020, June 2020, and September 2023. The prosecutor noted these prior offences when the case was heard. District Judge Shawn Ho questioned the prosecutor about the necessity of a driving disqualification order, given the severity of the current offence and Zong's past record. While the prosecution did not initially press for a ban, they indicated they would defer to the court's judgment on the matter.

Rush and Lateness Cited as Mitigation

During the court proceedings, Zong Zijie, who was unrepresented, initially remained silent. However, when directly addressed by Judge Ho, he offered an explanation for his actions. He stated that on the day of the offence, he was "late and in a rush," which led him to exceed the speed limit considerably. "I know that I went above the speed limit, so, I'll face my… whatever the court issues me," he told the court. When the judge inquired about his stance on a potential driving suspension, Zong expressed concern about the impact on his career. "I would prefer there not to be a suspension, because my work actually requires me to travel a lot, so a disqualification for a period of time will cause a lot of inconvenience," he explained. Despite his plea for leniency regarding the driving ban, the court ultimately imposed a one-month disqualification. The fine of S$800 reflects the seriousness of exceeding the speed limit by such a margin, particularly in light of his past traffic infringements.

Career Milestones and Media Affiliation

Zong Zijie is an established figure in Singapore's Chinese entertainment scene. He is an artiste with Noontalk Media, a Chinese media entertainment agency co-founded by actor Dasmond Koh. His career began at a young age; according to his profile on the Noontalk website, Zong debuted in Mediacorp's Chinese drama "My School Daze" in 2009 when he was just 13 years old. His presence in the industry has been recognised with nominations. In 2018, the Chinese national, who holds Singapore permanent resident status, was nominated for the Best Newcomer Award at the prestigious Star Awards. More recently, between 2022 and 2024, Zong has featured in several television productions, including "Your World In Mine," "The Sky Is Still Blue," and "If Tomorrow Comes." This recent legal matter, however, casts a shadow over his public profile. The conviction for speeding and the subsequent driving ban highlight the potential consequences of traffic violations, even for individuals in the public eye. His work, which he stated requires significant travel, will be directly impacted by the month-long suspension of his driving privileges.

The bottom line

  • Actor Zong Zijie received a S$800 fine and a one-month driving ban for speeding.
  • The offence involved driving 51kmh over the 70kmh limit on West Coast Highway.
  • Zong cited being late and in a rush as reasons for the speeding.
  • He has a history of three prior speeding violations.
  • The driving ban will cause inconvenience to his work, which requires travel.
  • Zong Zijie is a Singapore permanent resident and an artiste with Noontalk Media.
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