Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Police investigating incident of taxi driver allegedly punched by man on Beach Road

SINGAPORE — The police are investigating a man for allegedly punching a ComfortDelGro taxi driver in the face on Beach Road over the weekend, after a video of the man leaving the scene went viral on social media.

Screengrabs from a video by Yale-NUS Assistant Professor Malcolm Keating, who claimed he saw the man he filmed assault a taxi driver.

Screengrabs from a video by Yale-NUS Assistant Professor Malcolm Keating, who claimed he saw the man he filmed assault a taxi driver.

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE — The police are investigating a man for allegedly punching a ComfortDelGro taxi driver in the face on Beach Road over the weekend, after a video of the man leaving the scene went viral on social media.

The footage showed the man waking into Haji Lane in Bugis, while being followed by a group who witnessed the alleged assault. The person filming was heard urging passers-by to "call the cops".

In response to queries from TODAY, ComfortDelGro's spokesperson said its taxi drivers "deserve to work in a safe environment like everybody else", and that the company is providing assistance to the driver.

“We will be waiving rental for the three days of medical leave that (the driver) has been given and will be assisting him the best we can. We will also assist the police in their investigations,” said Ms Tammy Tan, ComfortDelGro group chief branding and communications officer.

A police spokesperson confirmed on Monday (April 25) that a report has been lodged, but did not state if any arrests had been made.

WHAT HAPPENED

The incident first surfaced on Twitter, when Assistant Professor of Philosophy Malcom Keating at Yale-NUS College tweeted about the incident after witnessing the alleged altercation. 

Dr Keating claimed that the man had gotten into the cab that he and his friends had booked at Beach Road on the evening of April 23.

When the driver realised he had the wrong passenger, he was said to have asked the man to exit the vehicle, according to Dr Keating on Twitter.

As Dr Keating opened the back door of the cab, the man allegedly “reached up and hit the driver”, he said.

Dr Keating's group then followed the man while filming him and shouting at him to stop walking away.

In the video, the man could be seen walking down Haji Lane, while a voice yelled in the background for people to call for the police as he was hit.

Appealing to the public to contact the police if they recognise the alleged assailant, Dr Keating said he spoke to the taxi driver the next morning.

“I think he’s okay but shaken up. This was inexcusable behaviour and I‘d like to see this man be held accountable,” he wrote on Twitter. 

DRIVERS CAN'T RETALIATE

ComfortDelGro thanked Dr Keating for helping the driver and for bringing the matter to the company's attention.

Said Ms Tan: "Those who have been assaulted have been told not to retaliate when facing a threatening situation but to try and remember as much as they can, so that they can assist the police in their investigations."

The company added that drivers in such situations should file a police report and forward the report to the company for "follow-up action".

"We help them with their medical claims, losses and also rental waiver, if needed. We also compensate them for their loss in income when they are required to attend the court as witnesses," she added.

Related topics

taxi driver assault bugis Haji Lane comfortdelgro

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.