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Trailer driver pleads guilty to puncturing bus tyre with needle out of anger after parking lot got taken

SINGAPORE — A trailer driver pleaded guilty on Wednesday (Sept 28) to puncturing another heavy vehicle’s tyre with a needle, as well as scratching it on several occasions.

A view of a heavy vehicle car park at Bukit Batok East Avenue 2, where Tan Chye Huat got upset when he could not get his usual parking lot.

A view of a heavy vehicle car park at Bukit Batok East Avenue 2, where Tan Chye Huat got upset when he could not get his usual parking lot.

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SINGAPORE — A trailer driver pleaded guilty on Wednesday (Sept 28) to puncturing another heavy vehicle’s tyre with a needle, as well as scratching it on several occasions.

Tan Chye Huat, 73, saw red after driving to a heavy vehicle car park along Bukit Batok East Avenue 2 on the evening of July 30 last year.

When Tan saw a private bus parked at his usual parking lot, he manoeuvred his trailer to another lot before "puncturing one of the bus tyres with a needle", the court heard.

Court documents showed that he also scratched the bus by using a bicycle to brush against its rear.

The bus driver eventually made a police report at Hong Kah Neighbourhood Police Post, saying that the driver of a trailer had caused damage to his vehicle on multiple occasions.

It was not stated in the documents how the bus driver knew who the culprit was. 

Both men then reached an agreement for Tan to pay compensation of S$2,500 in three monthly instalments from September to November this year.

On top of this, the prosecution also sought a fine, with the amount to be determined by the court.

However, District Judge Eddy Tham said that this could be an appropriate case for a community-based sentence, since it was Tan’s first time in court and he has agreed to compensate the bus driver.

The judge then called for a report to assess if Tan is suitable for a community service order.

Offenders that receive this sentence have to perform supervised community service for them to make amends to the community. Courts will look at the mental and physical conditions of an offender and whether it will allow for his or her reformation.

Tan said earlier in mitigation that he committed the offence on the spur of the moment.

“I was impulsive at the time and I regret it now. I'm deeply remorseful for my actions... I'm pleading for Your Honour's leniency,” he added through a Mandarin-speaking interpreter.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of committing mischief, with another charge taken into consideration for sentencing. Tan will return to court on Nov 3 to be sentenced.

Anyone convicted of mischief can be fined or jailed up to two years, or both.

Related topics

court crime mischief heavy vehicle car park Bukit Batok

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