Passenger jailed for punching taxi driver

First, he punched a taxi driver for waking him up. Then he punched the driver again when told the cab fare was about $25.

Yesterday, 26-year-old Ng Lek Wee was jailed for five weeks for hitting Mr Chia Hong Kian, 62, on his head and shoulder in a TransCab along Tampines Street 43 at about 4am on Jan 18.

Pleading for leniency, bank employee Ng, who could have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined up to $5,000 for voluntarily causing hurt, said this was his first offence and he was drunk at the time.

The court heard that Mr Chia had picked up Ng at New Bridge Road near Lucky Chinatown at 3.35am.

Ng, who told him to drive to Tampines Street 43, fell asleep during the trip. When the taxi arrived there about half an hour later, Mr Chia woke Ng up to find out where he wanted to be dropped off.

Ng got angry and started abusing the cabby, asking why he could not stay in the cab longer. He then punched the victim on his left eye, head and shoulder several times. When told the fare, he hit the victim again on his head before leaving.

Due to his injuries, Mr Chia was unable to work for three days.

This article was published on May 3 in The Straits Times.

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