While we can agree that sometimes it’s annoying when a taxi doesn’t stop for us after flagging it down, it doesn’t serve as an excuse to damage personal property as a way of lashing out.
Angry that a taxi simply drove past him despite him signaling at it to stop and pick him up, an elderly man in Singapore proceeded to throw a rock at it, leading to its rear windshield being shattered and a young boy sustaining injuries.
SG man hurls rock at taxi for not picking him up
According to a report by Shin Min Daily News, the incident occurred along Boon Lay Way towards Lakeside MRT Station at around 7.19pm on Dec 10, 2023.
It all began when 62-year-old Chen Jin Cheng (transliteration), tried hailing for a taxi as he was running late for work.
However, the taxi driver couldn’t accept passengers at the time as he was bringing his 7-year-old son out for dinner.
Despite the taxi driver signaling to Chen that he wouldn’t be picking him up, the latter still assumed that he could get a ride and was left fuming when he saw the taxi zoom past him without slowing down.
Out of anger, Chen picked up a rock and threw it at the taxi, causing its rear windshield to shatter. The taxi driver’s son, who was at the backseat, suffered two scratches on his left foot from the broken glass.
An earlier report by Shin Min Daily News stated that taxi driver stopped the vehicle and called police, who later arrived with an ambulance.
His son was treated at the hospital, where it cost S$140 (approx. RM469). As for the taxi, its repair costs amounted to S$1,393 (approx. RM4,600).
Blamed actions on skipped medication
When Chen appeared in court yesterday (Aug 22), he claimed that his actions were caused by him not taking the medication prescribed to him by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and pleaded for a lighter sentence.
It was later revealed that it wasn’t Chen’s first time acting out in a similar fashion, where he was seen walking in the middle of Jurong West Avenue 1, disrupting traffic and forcing a taxi to come to a screeching halt on Dec 8.
He now faces three charges of mischief, reckless behaviour causing injury to others, and reckless behaviour endangering the safety of others.
Sentencing was adjourned to Sept 19 and the judge had ordered the prosecution to prepare a report to determine whether Chen is fit for mandatory treatment.
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