Oct 15, 2010
Road rage driver jailed 6 weeks
By Elena Chong, Court Correspondent
Chong Chieh, 37-years-old was sentenced to 6 weeks of jail for road rage by cause hurt to a taxi driver. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
A MAN who head-butted and punched a taxi driver in a road rage case was jailed for six weeks on Friday. Chong Chieh, 38, a freelance supplier and exporter of mobile phones, had admitted to causing hurt to Mr Chong Kah Hen, 57, at the traffic junction of Bishan Street 11 on May 11 last year. The court heard that Chong was in a car driven by his friend who had stopped behind Mr Chong's car at about 2.30am at the traffic lights on Bishan Street 14.
When the lights turned green, Mr Chong did not move off immediately as he was waiting for a commuter on the opposite side of the road to walk over to his taxi. Despite sounding his horn at him, Mr Chong did not move but alighted and waved his hand at the motorist to indicate to him to wait. Chong then got down and confronted the victim. He shouted at the cabby and accused him of showing an abusive sign but the cabby denied this.
In an ensuing dispute, Chong head-butted the victim on his forehead and punched his face many times. The victim did not retaliate and merely covered his face with his hand to defend himself. Chong walked back to his car, and later confronted the victim, punching him two more times. He could have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined up to $5,000 for causing hurt.
