PETALING JAYA: The Singaporean news portal theindependent.sg has taken down its report on the death of hit-and-run victim Justinian Tan.

A check on the web page of the article found that it had been replaced with a notice bearing the headline “We’re Sorry!”.

“We unreservedly apologize to the parties concerned for the anguish and distress this incident has caused,” read the notice on Sunday.

This comes after the Health Ministry announced that it would be lodging an official complaint with the Singaporean government over an allegation made in the report.

In the article, the portal said an ambulance took 30 minutes to arrive at the accident scene along Jalan Dato Abdullah Tahir, in Taman Abad, on Aug 25.

Tan, a Singaporean, along with his five friends were walking to their car after supper when he and another friend were reportedly hit from behind by a Malaysian-registered car that did not stop.

The article, which was based on information provided by one of Tan’s friends, also claimed that the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) had demanded a deposit from the victim’s friends before treating the patient.

Tan’s family then discharged him and arranged for his admission to the Singapore General Hospital where he died at about 12.30am on Aug 30 after being taken off life support.

On Friday, Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, referring to ambulance records, denied there was any delay or demand of payment before Tan was treated.

A friend of Tan who was there at the scene was later reported as admitting that there may have been confusion at the Malaysian hospital due to difficulties in communicating.