Man fined for jumping on Grab car bonnet, climbing onto roof in viral video
To celebrate his 26th birthday in May last year, Chee Chu Siong went to a nightclub at St James Power Station with his friends and the group drank six bottles of whiskey.
After the celebrations ended, the partygoers were walking through a carpark when Chee ran up to a moving Grab car and climbed onto its roof before jumping off.
A video of the incident, captured on the in-car camera of the vehicle, has been viewed more than 600,000 times on Facebook.
The damage to the BMW car cost its 70-year-old owner Koh Poh Choh at least $9,800.
At the State Courts on Monday (11 March), Chee was fined the maximum $2,500 after pleading guilty to doing a rash act endangering human life or the personal safety of others.
Chee, who works in events management and as a club bouncer, admitted to another count of mischief which was considered in his sentencing.
Celebrating birthday at nightclub
Chee turned 26 on 4 May last year and went clubbing with his friends that evening. At about 3am the next day, the group left the nightclub and walked through a carpark on their way home.
At the time, Koh was driving through the carpark to pick up a Grab passenger when Chee suddenly ran into the path of the moving car, forcing Koh to a stop.
Chee jumped onto the bonnet of the vehicle just as it came to a stop. He then climbed over the windscreen and onto its roof before jumping off the car and walking off with his friends.
Koh was unable to get out of the car in time to detain Chee. But his in-car camera footage proved useful to the police in tracking down the perpetrator.
Chee was arrested shortly after, and charged in court two days later.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Li Yihong and defence lawyer Josephus Tan both asked for a fine. Tan said his client had already paid Koh a settlement sum of $12,300.
Chee was allowed to pay his $2,500 fine in five instalments of $500 a month until July. If he fails to pay any part of the fine, he will have to serve two weeks’ jail.
The maximum punishment for committing a rash act endangering the life or personal safety of others is up to six months’ jail along with a fine of up to $2,500.
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