Lorry driver who punched e-scooter rider several times over near collision jailed
SINGAPORE — Angered over a near collision, a lorry driver punched an e-scooter rider on his face four times in front of the victim’s young daughter.
Tan Kok Kheng then picked up Muhammad Syukor Roslan’s e-scooter and threw it onto the road in a rage.
On Tuesday (10 September), Tan, 52, was sentenced to 30 days’ jail after he pleaded guilty to one count of voluntarily causing hurt to Syukor. One count of committing mischief, by throwing Syukor’s e-scooter to the ground and causing damage of $300, was taken into consideration for his sentencing.
On 10 April 2017, Syukor rode his e-scooter with his daughter along Choa Chu Kang Road after fetching her. As Syukor was about to cross a Y-junction along Choa Chu Kang Road towards Teck Whye Lane, he noticed Tan’s lorry was about to turn left into Teck Whye Lane from Choa Chu Kang Road.
Syukor stopped his e-scooter and raised his hand for Tan to give way. The lorry was seen to be slowing down. Assuming that Tan would be giving way, Syukor accelerated his e-scooter to cross the junction. But Tan accelerated as well.
Both had to brake abruptly to avoid a collision. Tan alighted from his lorry to confront Syukor, who asked why the lorry driver did not wait for the e-scooter to cross first as his daughter was riding pillion.
Tan did not reply but punched Syukor’s face at least four times, while Syukor’s daughter cried. He then lifted the e-scooter and threw it onto the ground.
Syukor sought medical treatment at Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic the next day, complaining of pain over his right forehead and left cheek. A medical report stated that he had tenderness on his facial area.
Tan has since compensated Syukor $1,000 for his medical expenses and $300 for the damage to the e-scooter.
Seeking a jail term of at least five weeks, Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Wei Liang said that Tan was the aggressor while Syukor responded passively.
“(Tan) behaved like a bully and hooligan throughout and it is fortunate that the victim did not suffer from more injuries,” said DPP Lee. The assault was in full public view and caused distress to Syukor’s daughter, he added.
Lim Swee Tee, Tan’s lawyer, had mitigated that his client had apologised to Syukor’s daughter at the scene, but this was contrary to investigations, said the DPP.
Tan could have been jailed up to two years and/or fined up to $5,000 for voluntarily causing hurt.
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