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It's normal to get frustrated when you can't get a cab, but this was too much.
A 50-year-old man reportedly slapped and choked a taxi driver for 15 seconds when the cabbie refused to take him on Sep 22, 2014 at one in the morning. The driver had parked his car near Boat Quay when the irate passenger, reportedly drunk, tried to open one of the rear doors. "The cabby apologised to the burly Norwegian and told him that he was going to use the toilet. Instead of looking for another taxi, [Arne] Corneliussen responded by slapping his victim's right cheek," reports Shaffiq Alkahatib on The New Paper.
A chase ensued and the passenger ended up keeping Chan Chuang Heng, 46, in a choke hold for about 15 seconds. Fortunately, two witnesses intervened and called the police.
Chan was brought to the Singapore General Hospital where he sustained a wound on his right arm and a fracture in his left foot, adds the report.
For all that trouble, Corneliussen's lawyer, Christine Ong, asked that her client be sentence to just two weeks in jail. Her argument: Chan "did not suffer any bruises or marks on his neck after he was choked" and the Norwegian, a permanent resident in Singapore, already gave Chan $30,000 in compensation.
Prosecution wants Corneliussen jailed for at least three months. The sentence will be handed down on Apr 1.
Corneliussen has pleaded guilty to one count of voluntarily causing hurt, which in the books could get him up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
Photo: The New Paper
Got a tip? Send it to us at singapore@coconuts.co.
It's normal to get frustrated when you can't get a cab, but this was too much.
A 50-year-old man reportedly slapped and choked a taxi driver for 15 seconds when the cabbie refused to take him on Sep 22, 2014 at one in the morning. The driver had parked his car near Boat Quay when the irate passenger, reportedly drunk, tried to open one of the rear doors. "The cabby apologised to the burly Norwegian and told him that he was going to use the toilet. Instead of looking for another taxi, [Arne] Corneliussen responded by slapping his victim's right cheek," reports Shaffiq Alkahatib on The New Paper.
A chase ensued and the passenger ended up keeping Chan Chuang Heng, 46, in a choke hold for about 15 seconds. Fortunately, two witnesses intervened and called the police.
Chan was brought to the Singapore General Hospital where he sustained a wound on his right arm and a fracture in his left foot, adds the report.
For all that trouble, Corneliussen's lawyer, Christine Ong, asked that her client be sentence to just two weeks in jail. Her argument: Chan "did not suffer any bruises or marks on his neck after he was choked" and the Norwegian, a permanent resident in Singapore, already gave Chan $30,000 in compensation.
Prosecution wants Corneliussen jailed for at least three months. The sentence will be handed down on Apr 1.
Corneliussen has pleaded guilty to one count of voluntarily causing hurt, which in the books could get him up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
Photo: The New Paper