Mr Toh Meng Teck with his pet chihuahua Lucky, which died after it
was hit by a cab on Feb 8, 2013. Hawker
Koh Seng Hong, 50, was sentenced to eight months' jail on Monday
for punching a taxi driver in the face twice after the driver had
run over his friend's chihuahua. --
ST FILE PHOTO: TOH MENG TECK
Hawker Koh Seng Hong, 50, was sentenced to eight months' jail on
Monday for punching a taxi driver in the face twice after the
driver had run over his friend's chihuahua.
Mr Ling Ah Yen, 67, sustained multiple fractures in the head after
the altercation, which occurred after he had run over the small dog
at Ang Mo Kio Street 12 on Feb 8 this year. Koh was drinking beer
with his friend, chef Toh Meng Teck, 40, and his friend's
girlfriend. Mr Toh had brought along his pet chihuahua, Lucky. The
couple and Koh left separately at 1am. Mr Toh raised his hand as
the couple crossed the road, and Mr Ling slowed down.
But he did not see the chihuahua, which was not leashed and had run
under the taxi, the court heard. The aggrieved Mr Toh started
shouting vulgarities, attracting the attention of Koh, who then
rushed over. Koh, who is married, heard the taxi driver comment in
Hokkien that "it was just a dog".
In mitigation, defence counsel S S Dhillon argued that the animal
lover was provoked by the "casual" comment, and the attack was
"most unfortunate and totally out of line with his character". In
sentencing Koh to eight months' jail, District Judge Lee Poh Choo
found that Koh's reaction "far exceeded the circumstances", and
that the dog owner was not blameless as he had failed to leash the
chihuahua. She also agreed with the prosecution that Mr Ling was
"not reckless", because he had slowed down to let Mr Toh cross the
road.
