Kelvin Poon, 22, was fined $3,000 for punching another man inside an MRT train.ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
SINGAPORE - Unhappy that a train commuter had jumped queue, a regular serviceman had a dispute with the man and subsequently punched him once in the left eye in the MRT train.
On Tuesday (Dec 8), Kelvin Poon Kai Chen, 22, was fined $3,000 after he admitted hurting Mr Choo Chin Huat, 35, a Malaysian principal engineer, in the train going from Bedok towards Kembangan on Feb 6 this year.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Kong Kuek Foo told the court that at about 5pm that day Poon, a lance corporal, and his girlfriend were waiting for the train at the Bedok station.
When the train arrived, Mr Choo jumped the queue and boarded the train ahead of them. The couple were not happy with Mr Choo.
A dispute broke out between Poon and Mr Choo, during which Poon pushed the victim's hand away. The victim purportedly challenged Poon.
Two commuters, both students, tried to separate them and calm Poon down by saying "chill'' and "cool down''.
Suddenly, Poon punched Mr Choo once in his left eye, damaging his spectacles and hurting his left eye.
Poon was then restrained and escorted off the MRT train by the station staff at Kembangan station.
Mr Choo sought treatment at Changi General Hospital. He complained of headache, pain around his left eye and giddiness. He was found to have an eye contusion.
Poon's lawyer, Ms Alice Tan, a Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (Clas) Fellow, said in mitigation that Poon was most remorseful for what he had done and, on hindsight, realised it was foolish.
She said he has an unblemished record and is looking forward to a fruitful and meaningful career in the Singapore Armed Forces.
Poon could have been jailed for up to two years and fined up to $5,000 for voluntarily causing hurt.
