In a fit of rage, a man hit the side mirror of a taxi and hurled vulgarities at the driver, who was in the vehicle with passengers, including an 18-month-old baby.
Joel Tan Qing Wei, 31, was yesterday sentenced to six weeks’ jail and a fine of S$2,000 (RM6,735) after he pleaded guilty to one count each of harassment and committing an act of mischief.
Before handing down the sentence, District Judge Eddy Tham said such thuggish behaviour has no place here.
Tan was working as a food delivery driver when he committed the offences in a service road beside Block 804B Keat Hong Close in Chua Chu Kang on Oct 10, 2021. The incident was captured on videos which went viral.
Court documents did not disclose if he was on the job at the time.
Deputy public prosecutor Tan Pei Wei said he was slowly riding his motorcycle in a zig-zag manner at a roundabout in the area shortly before the confrontation took place.
The 55-year-old taxi driver, who was ferrying a couple and their young child, was close by when he sounded his horn once and drove past Tan.
Tan responded by yelling obscenities at him.
The cabby then turned into a carpark leading towards Block 804B. Said the DPP: “The accused had followed the victim’s vehicle to the incident location to confront him. The accused shifted his motorcycle to the side and laid it on the ground before approaching the taxi.
“He circled the taxi, repeatedly shouted for the victim to ‘come out’, while slamming his hand on the windows and trying to pull open its doors.”
The prosecutor said: “The accused tore off the taxi’s rear windscreen wiper and threw it at the rear windscreen, causing the glass to shatter. He also struck the taxi in multiple places with his motorcycle helmet, including smashing both side windows and hurling the helmet at the side of the taxi.”
Tan fled on his motorcycle before police arrived at the scene. He was arrested on Oct 12, 2021.
The prosecutor said the cost of repairing the damaged taxi came up to S$9,651.40 (RM32,500), and Tan has since made restitution. — The Straits Times/ANN
