Passenger from casino shoved taxi driver who told him not to gamble if he could not afford it, gets jail
The victim told 66-year-old Chan Kok Khay to "go back and sleep", saying that Chan had lost money while gambling and was venting his anger on the victim.
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SINGAPORE — A retiree who boarded a taxi at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) Casino got into a dispute with the driver along the way.
They alighted near a tunnel, began filming each other and got into an altercation after the cabby said the passenger should not gamble if he cannot afford it.
The passenger, 66-year-old Chan Kok Khay, was sentenced on Thursday (Nov 9) to four weeks' jail for voluntarily causing hurt and a fine of S$2,000 for cursing at a public service worker.
The court heard that the victim, 59-year-old Tan Wee Giap, was at the taxi stand at Resorts World Sentosa Casino at around 12.20am on March 22 last year.
About an hour later, Chan boarded Mr Tan's taxi and asked to head to Telok Blangah Drive.
When the taxi was exiting a tunnel near RWS, a dispute ensued and Mr Tan stopped the taxi, telling Chan that he would call the police.
Both men alighted and were standing on the road just after the tunnel. They began recording each other with their phones, the court heard.
Chan advanced towards Mr Tan and gestured towards him, hurling Hokkien and English vulgarities at him. This was captured in a video taken by Mr Tan.
Mr Tan called the police for help, saying he was involved in a "commotion" with Chan.
While Chan was cursing at Mr Tan, Mr Tan told him to "go back and sleep", saying that Chan had lost money while gambling and was venting his anger on him.
He repeated to Chan that if he cannot afford to lose money, then he should not gamble.
He repeatedly told Chan that he was being recorded, and to wait for the police to come.
Closed-circuit television footage showed Chan advancing towards Mr Tan and extending his arm to push him. Mr Tan fended off Chan, but was shown being pushed on his chest in the footage.
The police arrived at around 1.30am and noted that Chan smelt strongly of alcohol.
Mr Tan saw a doctor and was found to have suffered tenderness over his ribs. He was diagnosed with assault, complicated by left chest wall bruises.
There were also bruises over his wrist.
The prosecution sought a fine of S$2,000 for the use of abusive language, and four weeks' jail for the causing hurt charge.
MITIGATION
Defence lawyer Wasiur Rehman said his client was just a retiree going to the casino, hoping to enjoy himself.
The victim had essentially told him not to gamble if he could not afford it, said the lawyer.
According to him, Chan had shared with the taxi driver about how he had taken care of his family but now wished to enjoy himself, but purportedly faced sarcastic remarks from the cabby.
He cited his client's long list of health issues and asked for fines.
For voluntarily causing hurt, Chan could have been jailed up to three years, fined up to S$5,000, or both.
For using abusive words on a public service worker, he could have been jailed for up to 12 months, fined up to S$5,000, or both. CNA
