Man gets jail for hitting cabby and policeman

SINGAPORE - First, he damaged the door handle of a taxi after the driver refused to let him board. Then, he punched the driver of another cab, before hitting a police officer in his face.

On Thursday, 24-year-old Rajiv Shukvir was sentenced to five weeks in jail and ordered to pay $416 in compensation to ComfortDelGro.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sarah Ong said Rajiv had gone to Clarke Quay for drinks with friends on Dec 1 last year.

At about 2.30am, the self-employed man left his friends and flagged down Mr Yeo Teck Huat's cab in River Valley Road.

But when he was inside, he behaved in an aggressive manner and assaulted the 53-year-old driver, who sounded his horn.

Rajiv got out and approached a taxi a few metres behind.

Because the driver of this taxi had seen what had happened earlier, he did not want to let the man board and locked the doors.

Finding them locked, Rajiv pulled on the left front-door handle, dislodging it. The repair cost came up to $416.

Frustrated, Rajiv then went back to Mr Yeo, who was standing behind his taxi. He punched the driver several times in his face. The cabby tried to push him away and Rajiv fell onto the ground. A scuffle ensued.

Just then, Inspector Eugene Sim Wei Leong, 28, arrived on the scene with other police officers. They separated the two men. Insp Sim told Rajiv to sit but he insisted on standing.

Eventually, Rajiv sat, but soon got up and threw a punch at the officer on his lower jaw.

Necessary force was then used to pin down Rajiv, who did not stop struggling.

Rajiv, who admitted to two charges of causing hurt and one of mischief, was allowed to begin serving his jail term on Sept 6.

He is out on $10,000 bail.

elena@sph.com.sg

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