Jail for drunken chef who punched cabby

Jail for drunken chef who punched cabby

A drunken chef punched a cabby in the mouth until it bled after going on a rampage in Chinatown.

Garfield Gordon Angove III also kicked over a motorbike during the violent spree.

Yesterday, the 38-year-old American was jailed for two weeks and handed a $1,000 fine.

Angove, who used to run a Miami-style bar-restaurant called Lucky 13, grabbed taxi driver Chua Poh Soon, 57, by the shoulder and punched him repeatedly in the face, the court heard.

The cabby was later treated in hospital for cuts to his lips.

It was the culmination of a string of offences that began when Angove targeted motorcyclist Mohammad Fariz Muhammad Yusman on the night of May 25. He grabbed the 23-year-old rider, who was parked outside Chinatown Point, and asked him an unintelligible question that apparently sounded like: "You want me to give you?"

A row then broke out, in which Angove swung his fist at Mr Fariz, who managed to dodge it. The American also kicked the motorcycle, toppling it onto its side.

When Mr Fariz took out his phone to call the police, Angove charged at him.

The motorcyclist ran away - with the chef in hot pursuit.

Angove then flagged down Mr Chua's taxi and got in.

But as the cabby was about to drive away, Mr Fariz and another man shouted at him not to go.

Angove then got out and stood outside the taxi driver's door - before launching the attack with his fists.

Police and an ambulance arrived at the scene but Mr Chua refused to be taken to hospital, driving there on his own instead.

Meanwhile, Angove headed to nearby Upper Cross Street, where he hurled four-letter words at a police officer.

The chef, who has paid $500 for damage to the motorcycle and another taxi, pleaded guilty to mischief and causing hurt.

On Tuesday, he was also ordered to give Mr Chua $3,500 in compensation.

Angove apologised to the victims and their families, and asked for a second chance.

District Judge Hamidah Ibrahim said the most serious offence was punching the cabby, who was completely innocent.

"For you to beat him up in this manner is totally unacceptable," she added.


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