The top chef...and his recipe for disaster

Foodies who knew Garfield Gordon Angove III, 38, said he was a reputed chef. The American helmed the now defunct Lucky 13 restaurant at TripleOne Somerset. He was also the former culinary director of food consultancy Revolver Asia and executive chef at Prive restaurant - both upscale establishments.

So it came as a surprise to fellow chefs that he was sentenced on Tuesday to two weeks' jail for punching a taxi driver.

Said a friend, who wanted to be known only as Mark: "He is a very nice person.

He isn't arrogant or aggressive."

Mark, who was also a supplier of seafood for Lucky 13, had met Angove several times.

"He's loud, brash and talkative but I've never known him to be violent."

But he was. And his actions on May 25 turned out to be a recipe for disaster.

1. Rub Salt

As Mr Mohammad Fariz Muhammad Yusman, 23, was returning to his parked motorcycle at New Bridge Road on May 25 at around 8.45pm, he noticed a figure near his bike.

It was Angove, who was standing up from behind the bushes near the vehicle.

Court documents said the chef approached Mr Fariz as he seated himself on the bike, then grabbed him and said: "You want me to give you."

The documents do not state what he meant by that.

Mr Fariz immediately pushed Angove's hand away and the pair started arguing.

2. Add Chilli

The heated exchange was witnessed by taxi driver Seah Hock Tean, 57, as he stopped his vehicle beside Mr Fariz's bike while dropping off a passenger outside the Lucky Chinatown mall.

Things became violent when Angove swung his fist at Mr Fariz, who dodged the blow.

But Angove wasn't done.

He then kicked Mr Fariz's motorcycle, which toppled and crashed against Mr Seah's taxi, damaging the bike's handlebar and brake lever and leaving a dent on the taxi's left rear door.

3. Throw in Spice

Mr Fariz immediately pulled out his mobile phone and called the police. But as he was doing so, Angove charged at him, prompting him to run away.

The chase continued for a short while before Angove flagged a taxi, and told the driver, Mr Chua Poh Soon, 57, to drive away from the scene.

Mr Fariz and Mr Seah, though, weren't about to let him go, and shouted at Mr Chua to tell him not to drive away.

Mr Chua obeyed as he was not sure what to do, and wanted to exit from his taxi.

But before he could do so, Angove had alighted and stood outside the driver's door, stopping him from getting out.

As the driver's window was down, Angove held Mr Chua by his shoulder and punched him repeatedly on his face.

When he was done assaulting Mr Chua, who was left bleeding from his mouth, he fled before the police arrived at the scene.

4. Up the Heat

Angove also verbally abused a police corporal at Upper Cross Street where they found him about two hours later.

5. And Justice is Served

On Tuesday, Angove pleaded guilty to charges of mischief, assault, voluntarily causing hurt and verbally abusing a police corporal. 

In his unrepresented mitigation, he said he was very sorry for his actions and hoped to be given a second chance as he is starting work in mid-October.

He also said he offered $3,500 as compensation to Mr Chua, who turned it down and asked for $5,000 instead.

Angove said he was willing to make the full compensation and was prepared to take full responsibility for his actions.

He was sentenced to two weeks' jail for voluntarily causing hurt to Mr Chua and ordered to compensate him $3,500.

Angove was also fined $1,000 for mischief.

If he defaults, he will be jailed for one more week.

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