A MAN was
yesterday arrested for driving a taxi without a licence and
assaulting a police officer.
The
45-year-old, who was driving a Prime taxi, was spotted overtaking
vehicles and weaving across lanes in Paya Lebar Road, in the
direction of Upper Paya Lebar Road, at 7.25am yesterday.
No
passenger was on board at the time.
He was
stopped by traffic police during a routine patrol, and was asked to
alight from the vehicle.
When he was
asked to produce his driving licence, the man suddenly pushed a
traffic policeman away and attempted to jump into the taxi to make
a getaway.
According
to a report in Chinese evening paper Shin Min Daily News, the
officer then leapt forward and grabbed the man around his waist to
prevent him from escaping.
The man
struggled to shake free from the officer. He succeeded in pushing
the officer onto the ground and threw punches and kicks at
him.
Eyewitnesses rushed
forward to stop the scuffle, and the man was arrested after police
reinforcements were called in.
The Straits
Times understands that the man was disqualified from driving in
2010, and that the taxi he was driving was not registered under his
name. It is unclear if he had had a taxi licence in the
past.
A police
spokesman said investigations are ongoing.
He said the
man was arrested for "driving while under disqualification and
voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his
duty".
Prime
Taxi's deputy general manager Neo Chee Yong told The Straits Times
it is a serious offence for a hirer to share his taxi with an
unapproved driver.
"Firm
action will be taken, pending the investigation outcome," he
added.