Bus drivers who were assaulted
The New Paper
Wednesday, Jul 04, 2012
Above: The bus had been the target of two bullies in 2011. They then forced their way through the smashed door into the bus and pummelled the driver, John Achin (right).
2007
A bus commuter punched a driver in the mouth after the latter refused to let him alight.
The driver had told the commuter that he had to wait until the next stop to get off after he missed his stop at Pasir Ris Drive 12.
The commuter was jailed for a day and fined $1,000 for the assault.
JANUARY 2008
A teenager became angry when an SMRT bus driver told him and his female friend to move towards the back of the bus as they were blocking the rear door.
The driver called the police after the teen hurled verbal abuse at him.
He then grabbed the boy's arm when he tried to leave, but the boy punched him in the face.
AUGUST 2009
An SBS Transit bus driver was punched by a female passenger after he caught her misusing a senior citizen concession card.
When the driver confiscated the card and refused to return it, the woman punched his face.
DECEMBER 2009
A man swung a plastic bag containing a packet of food and an alarm clock at an SBS Transit bus driver because he thought that the bus was moving too slowly.
When the driver activated an emergency button after the assault to alert the SBS operations room, the man stepped forward and grabbed the steering wheel, causing the bus to swerve dangerously.
The man, who had drunk several bottles of beer that night, was jailed for two months and three weeks for hurting the driver and for endangering the safety of the 13 passengers on board.
DECEMBER 2010
An odd-job worker chased a bus on foot after the bus collided with his car and did not stop.
The worker caught up with the vehicle at a bus stop and demanded that the driver step out.
When the driver did so, the man grabbed him in a headlock and punched him in the face.
For voluntarily causing hurt, the worker was sentenced to one week's jail and ordered to pay $700 in compensation to the driver.
APRIL 2011
A bus driver was hit on the face by a passenger who refused to pay his fare.
The driver had called out to the man after he walked past him without paying.
When the driver said no to his request for a free ride, the passenger swung his fist and hit the driver's eye.
NOVEMBER 2011
Two drunk men attacked a bus driver after he tried to get one of them to move his lorry, which was blocking a bus stop.
The two men battered the bus with their fists, then hurled beer bottles at the vehicle before smashing the glass door panel with a beer crate.
They then forced their way through the smashed door into the bus and pummelled the driver in front of about 20 passengers.
This article was first published in The New Paper.
