Another taxi driver injured in unprovoked attack
A taxi driver was slashed on his arm by his passenger early last Saturday morning (16 June), the second case of cabbies being attacked this month.
In the latest incident, the 58-year-old CityCab taxi driver, identified as only Tan, was slashed by a male Chinese passenger with an unidentified weapon, reported Shin Min Daily News.
According to the report, Tan had picked up the passenger from Telok Blangah at about 6:20am and was told to go to Jurong West St 81. Upon reaching the destination, which is near a waste collection centre at the foot of Blk 839, Tan stopped the meter and turned around to collect the fare.
It was at this point the passenger whipped out a weapon and started slashing him.
“It happened so quickly, and it was still dark. I couldn't see what weapon he was using,” Tan told The Straits Times.
The attacker striked again when Tan tried to retaliate.
The cause of the attack is unknown at this point. It did not appear to be robbery, however, as Tan said his assailant did not attempt to take his valuables.
It is also believed that Tan had tried to chase after his attacker on foot, resulting in a 20-metre blood trail at the scene.
The attack left Tan with deep cuts on his left arm, the Singapore Civil Defence Force told Yahoo! Singapore. He was sent to the National University Hospital.
Police combed the area for about five hours when they arrived at the scene, but no one has been arrested, reported ST. There was also no information about the attacker released.
When contacted by Yahoo! Singapore, the ComfortDelGro group, which operates the CityCab fleet, said they are “shocked to learn about the incident”.
Tammy Tan, the operator’s spokeswoman, added that their immediate concern is the well-being of their driver and that the company will be assisting him, while working with the police in their investigations.
According to news reports, the attack left Tan with damaged nerves in his left arm, which will require surgery. The driver added that he may quit driving.
In the earlier attack that happened on 8 June, a 48-year-old taxi driver was beaten unconscious by his passenger for driving a “lousy car”.
His attacker, reportedly a 30-year-old Korean man, has been arrested, and police investigations are ongoing.
