Tourist fined for entering train driver's cabin

Tourist fined for entering train driver's cabin

He entered an unoccupied driver's cabin at the back of an SMRT train.

The reason: He wanted to get away from the rush-hour crowd.

For that, Peter Anthony Kampos, 35, a Canadian national who was on holiday here, was fined $600 yesterday.

The court heard that Kampos boarded a packed west-bound SMRT train at about 6.30pm on March 16.

Packed in with the rest of the commuters, he noticed the emergency exit panel at the entrance to the driver's cabin at the rear end of the train.

He saw there were instructions by the side of the cabin door on how to open it.

So he followed the instructions and opened the door.

Once inside, he noticed a second door and tried to open it, but was unable to do so.

Meanwhile, a passenger who noticed that Kampos had slipped into the driver's cabin pressed the emergency communication button in the train.

The train came to a stop at Tanjong Pagar MRT station.

Station control manager Abdul Malek Mohamed Saod, 50, was alerted to the incident and entered the train to check.

He found Kampos crouching in a corner of the driver's cabin.

ARRESTED

The police were called in and Kampos was arrested.

He has been in remand since March 18 as he was unable to get a Singaporean bailor.

Yesterday, Kampos, who sports long blond hair and appeared unkempt in the dock, pleaded guilty to one count of causing nuisance in the train by pushing the emergency exit panel of the driver's cabin.

He also pleaded guilty to another charge of entering the driver's cabin without authorisation.

Kampos, who was unrepresented, said in mitigation that he was sorry for his actions and pleaded for a light fine.

He also said he was in Singapore on a social visit pass.

District Judge Wong Choon Ning took into account the duration that Kampos has been in remand and fined him $300 for each charge.

SMRT's corporate information and communications vice-president, Mr Patrick Nathan, said safeguards are in place to prevent unauthorised entry to the driver's cabins.

He added that the driver's cabin is protected by an alert system that allows immediate action in the case of an intrusion.

"The safety of all passengers is our utmost concern. Any intruders to the empty driver's (cabin) would not be able to affect the operations of the train. In the case mentioned, our safeguards led to the swift detection and arrest of the intruder," he said.

Under the Rapid Transit Systems Regulations, Kampos could have fined up to $500 for each charge.


This article was first published on April 16, 2015.
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