A CABBY who ran over a 15-year-old girl's foot but repeatedly
denied responsibility was yesterday given a one-month driving
ban.
Chong Chin Fatt, 56, was turning left at a junction when his taxi
crushed the teenage pedestrian's toes, fracturing two of them.
Instead of owning up to it, he claimed she had hurt herself while
playing with a skateboard.
Chong was later fined the maximum $1,000, but spared a driving
ban.
However, the prosecution appealed for him to be disqualified,
arguing that his behaviour was irresponsible, inconsiderate and
callous.
Yesterday, a High Court judge agreed, saying the cabby had failed
to keep a proper lookout for pedestrians and aggravated the offence
by denying it was his fault.
Justice Tay Yong Kwang said he would have taken a different view
had Chong admitted running over the girl's foot and apologised. But
the taxi driver "persisted in brazenly denying responsibility",
even after being convicted.
The girl, who cannot be named as she is a minor, spent 10 days in
hospital after the accident, which happened in February 2011 as
Chong was driving along Woodlands Avenue 4.
As he turned left into Woodlands Drive 44, the lights were
green in his favour. At the same time, they were also green for
pedestrians crossing the street.
The victim, who was wearing slippers, stepped onto the road
while holding her 13-year-old sister's hand.
Chong's passenger, Ms Chan May Er, testified during his
trial that she felt a bump and told him to stop when she saw the
victim limping.
She then called an ambulance when she saw the girl's toes were
bleeding.
Chong was charged with inconsiderate driving but contested the
case, arguing that his taxi did not run over the girl's foot.
Yesterday, Justice Tay said the cabby might not have realised at
first that it was his fault.
But this should have become clear to him after he heard the court
testimony of the girl, her sister and the doctor who attended to
the victim.
Deputy Public Prosecutor April Phang argued that Chong had failed
to see the two girls at the side of the road and showed a lack of
remorse by claiming that the victim had hurt herself while playing
with a skateboard.
