Six weeks’ jail, fine for man in S’pore who was caught on video terrorising taxi driver, passengers

A video of the incident taken by a passenger shows the man striking the taxi while hurling vulgarities. — Photos: Screengrabs from Roads.SG/Facebook/The Straits Times/ANN

SINGAPORE: 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 a young child.

Joel Tan Qing Wei, 31, was on Nov 11 sentenced to six weeks’ jail and a fine of S$2,000 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’s ugly behaviour in a service road beside Block 804B Keat Hong Close in Chua Chu Kang on Oct 10, 2021, was captured on videos which went viral.

In one clip, Tan, wearing a dark-coloured T-shirt, is seen picking up a motorcycle helmet from the ground and using it to hit a side mirror of the yellow taxi.

He can also be heard letting loose a stream of vulgarities.

A separate video of the commotion captured by one of the frightened passengers shows Tan circling the vehicle while yelling obscenities.

Another passenger is heard calling the police while holding tightly onto a child.

The police had said in an earlier statement that the taxi driver and his passengers were not hurt in the incident.

For harassment, an offender can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to S$5,000.

For committing an act of mischief, an offender can be jailed for up to a year and fined. – The Straits Times (Singapore)/Asia News Network