Man gets jail for breaking cabby's finger after bite
MS Chandru Suryakanth was given 10 months' jail for causing grievous hurt and disorderly behaviour.
[video=youtube;6yRbYfi0Ve0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yRbYfi0Ve0[/video]
Published 8 hours ago
Elena Chong
Court Correspondent
SINGAPORE - A property agent who bit a taxi driver's two fingers and broke one of them was given 10 months' jail for causing grievous hurt and disorderly behaviour.
MS Chandru Suryakanth, 49, pleaded guilty to grievously hurting Mr Seah Poh Sam 47, by biting two of his right fingers in the cab along Balestier Road on Nov 26, 2014.
He also admitted to shouting and gesticulating repeatedly at Mayflower Market at Block 162, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4, on Jan 9 this year. Four otrher charges were considered in sentencing.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Houston Johannus told the court that Mr Seah had picked up Chandru and one Anita Kumar Chanan Singh along Yishun Street 11 on Nov 26, 2014.
Halfway through the journey to Woodlands, the couple asked him to go to the Lavender area instead.
While the taxi was travelling along Balestier Road, they said they wanted to alight.
After the taxi stopped, Chandru took out his ATM card and asked to alight to withdraw money. Mr Seah refused and shouted at him.
As Mr Seah reached out to take the ATM card from Chandru, Chandru bit hard on his third and fourth fingers of his right hand. The couple left without paying the taxi fare.
Mr Seah suffered a broken third finger. He was given four days' medical leave and hand surgery follow-up.
In the other case, the court heard that police officers were despatched to Block 163, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4, after someone called the police.
Chandru was being interviewed by the police when he got aggressive and started to shout. He also gesticulated repeatedly with his hands.
Chandru was arrested after repeated warnings by the police. He was drunk then.
He had had several previous convictions including acts of violence and disorderly behaviour since 1987. In 2003, he was given five years' corrective training.
His lawyer Anil Balchandani said Chandru is handicapped in his left hand and suffers from mild neuro cognitive disorder. He said his client was very remorseful for his actions and his behaviour was under control with medication.
District Judge Lim Tse Haw said Chandru had re-offended not once, but twice since the grievous hurt offence.
He allowed Chandru to defer sentence until July 4.
Chandru could have been jailed for up to 10 years, fined and caned for grievous hurt.
As a repeat offender for disorderly behaviour, he could have been fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed for up to 12 months.
