Limo driver jailed for slashing friend’s husband who shattered his car windscreen

SINGAPORE — A limousine driver was jailed for three months and two weeks on Thursday (May 12) after seriously injuring the husband of his female friend by slashing him with a sharp object.

Riduan Nul Haliq Hirman Hadi, 39, pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing grievous hurt on grave and sudden provocation by Syed Mustaffa Syed Mohd, 36, who has already been jailed for his role in the altercation.

The pair met when Riduan took his friend, Mustaffa’s wife, home on April 15 last year. They got to a car park along Serangoon North Avenue 1 at about 11pm and began to talk, the court heard.

Mustaffa arrived in a van about half an hour later, went over and tried to open the driver’s door of Riduan’s car.

When he realised that it was locked, he began knocking on the driver’s window in a bid to get Riduan to alight. Riduan ignored him.

Mustaffa then unsuccessfully tried to break the window by hitting it, before breaking the car’s side-view mirror instead.

He also threw a rock at the windscreen and the driver’s window, causing both to shatter.

Court documents did not state why Mustaffa did this, or elaborate on any underlying reasons for the dispute between the two men.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Ng Shao Yan told the court that afterwards, Riduan got out of his car with a “sharp object” and “engaged in a physical altercation” with the other man. DPP Ng did not elaborate on the nature of the sharp object.

Riduan then slashed Mustaffa, who went to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital after suffering multiple injuries. These included deep cuts on his abdomen, chest, chin, upper arm, palm and nape of his neck, as well as a traumatic liver cut.

Court documents did not state what the woman was doing throughout the attack.

Mustaffa underwent several surgical procedures and was discharged about a week after the incident.

He was unable to follow his ordinary pursuits for 34 days, DPP Ng said.

Riduan’s lawyer, Mr Wee Hong Shern, told the court that Riduan had seen an email Mustaffa sent to his wife that read: “If I get my hands on him, that is it.”

Mr Wee did not elaborate in open court what Mustaffa’s grievance was.

The lawyer said that Riduan wanted to end his meeting with Mustaffa’s wife and leave upon seeing the message, but the other man then swerved his van in front of his car, leading him to lock the driver’s door.

Mustaffa “shouted and cursed” at him and these outbursts of aggression worried him. When Mustaffa shattered the windscreen and driver’s window, he stepped out and the confrontation ensued, Mr Wee added.

Riduan had done his best to remain passive but admitted that he had reacted out of proportion and was now remorseful, the defence counsel told District Judge Paul Chan.

Mustaffa was sentenced earlier to seven weeks' jail for an offence of committing mischief.

Riduan could have been jailed for up to six years or fined up to S$10,000, or punished with both.