A MAN who assaulted and stole money from a taxi driver was
jailed for six months on Wednesday.
Odd-job labourer Tan Cher Liang, 53, pleaded guilty to hitting
cabby Check Yeng Chew, 50, three times on the cheek while he was
travelling in the cab along Jurong East Street 24 on Feb 4.
A second charge of stealing $100 from the victim was taken into
consideration during his sentencing. Deputy Public Prosecutor
Audrey Heng said while the cabby was taking Tan to Woodlands that
night, Tan hit the victim's head with a bag of mushrooms he was
carrying.
Claiming that he was 'Ah Long San's brother', Tan said he need
not pay if he took a taxi. He then threw three punches at the
cabby's cheek. Fearing he would be assaulted further, Mr Check
continued to drive. Tan vomited in the taxi. On arriving at
Woodlands, he again threatened to assault the victim, who
immediately got down and ran away.
Mr Anthony Lim said his client, who has a string of previous
convictions since 1974, was released from preventive detention two
years ago, and found it hard to fit into society because of his
criminal record.
He indulged in drinks that night when he learnt that his elder
sister, the only person who was close to him, was dying of cancer,
said the lawyer. Tan could have been jailed for up to two years
and/or fined up to $5,000.