Man jailed 5 months for hitting police officer along Seletar Expressway
He was pulled over by a traffic police officer along an expressway for inconsiderate driving. But he resisted arrest and hit the officer on the head when the latter found out that he was being investigated for other offences.
Tan Jock Juam, 54, was given five months’ jail in the State Courts on Friday (27 April) after he admitted to causing hurt to a public servant on 5 June 2017.
The court heard that Tan, who was then a driver for a laundry service, was driving a lorry at the time of the incident.
While on duty along the Seletar Expressway, Traffic Police Mohammad Shahzril Shahari, 27, saw Tan swerve into the path of a double-decker bus, causing the bus to brake to avoid a collision.
Shahzril saw Tan holding a phone to his ear while driving, and gestured for him to stop at the road shoulder with the intention of booking him for inconsiderate driving. While Shahzril was sending Tan’s particulars back to the traffic operations command centre, he directed the driver to sit in the passenger seat of his police car.
After receiving information that Tan was wanted for other offences, Shahzril reached for his handcuffs to restrain the driver. At this moment, Tan jumped from the rear seat to the driver’s seat and tried to start the car.
The officer told Tan to stop and entered the car to hold on to him. In response, Tan swung his elbow and hit Shahzril on the head several times.
Tan managed to get out of the car, dragging the officer through the driver’s door. He broke free and ran to the rear of the car.
Shahzril chased Tan and managed to grab the driver, who then fell forward at the road shoulder and pulled the officer down with him. While Shahzril was pinning Tan down, the driver hit his own head on the road multiple times and asked the officer to let him go.
Several other police officers arrived at the scene shortly and arrested Tan. Shahzril was given three days of medical leave for knee pain as a result of the scuffle.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Dora Tay sought a jail term of at least five months, saying that the law takes a strict approach towards those who hurt public servants who are discharging their duties.
The struggle also happened beside an expressway, putting the officer in danger, she added.
Tan, who was unrepresented, told the court he was sorry and that he reacted out of fear in the incident.
During sentencing, District Judge Edgar Foo told Tan that he should have faced the consequences for his mistakes instead of getting into more trouble.
Tan is currently serving a jail term of five years and six months for drug offences. He will serve the additional five-month jail term after his sentence for the previous conviction ends.
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