Drunk passenger jailed for punching taxi driver
Published Sep 21, 2015, 3:49 pm SGT
Elena Chong
Court Correspondent
SINGAPORE - A drunk passenger punched a taxi driver in the face several times after the cabby refused to take him home, a court heard.
Eu Beng, 56, was sentenced to four weeks' jail on Monday (Sept 21) after he admitted hurting Mr Chin Wei Kee, 38, at Block 323, Bukit Batok Street 33 on Feb 13 this year .
The court heard that Eu had been drinking with some friends at a coffee shop in that block that evening. He got drunk and one of his friends, Mr Chua Teng Kwee, helped him to flag down a taxi to get home.
Mr Chin stopped for Eu at about 10.45pm. Mr Chua then left for the coffee shop.
On seeing that Eu was drunk, Mr Chin refused to take him. They quarelled and Eu punched the cabby a few times on the left side of his face.
The cabby got out of his taxi quickly to avoid being hit further. Eu also alighted and hit the cabby again.
On hearing the commotion, Mr Chua hurried back to restrain Eu. Eu continued to be aggressive and shouted at the victim, who then called the police.
Mr Chin had mild swelling and tenderness over his left cheek. He was given two days' medical leave.
Eu could have been jailed for up to two years and fined up to $5,000 for causing hurt.
