SINGAPORE — After arguing with another taxi driver over a traffic dispute, Lee Chee Kiong managed to land a blow on the older man and left him with a broken collarbone.

Lee, 53, was fined S$4,000 on Friday (Feb 11) after pleading guilty to disturbing the public peace by fighting with Lim Cher Boo in a public place last year. The charge was amended from one of voluntarily causing hurt that turned out to be grievous hurt.

Another charge of committing mischief by hitting the right wing mirror of Lim’s SMRT taxi was taken into consideration for sentencing.

Lim, 68, was earlier fined S$1,200 for his role in the incident.

The court heard that Lee, who drove a taxi from ComfortDelGro and had been on this job for about 13 years, did not know Lim before they met on Jan 20 last year. Lim had been a taxi driver for more than four decades.

That morning, Lim was driving along Jurong West Street 93 when Lee turned his vehicle onto the same street. A traffic dispute arose between them and they stopped their taxis side-by-side at a nearby signalised junction.

They exchanged words before Lim drove off and Lee followed.

When Lim stopped his taxi along Yunnan Drive 2, Lee also stopped, got out to approach Lim’s vehicle and used his fist to hit the right wing mirror.

The other man got out of his vehicle and they began arguing verbally, which escalated into a physical brawl when Lim moved aggressively towards Lee and pushed Lee.

Lee retaliated by pushing him to the ground.

Lim proceeded to get up and lunged towards Lee. In the scuffle, Lee eventually hit Lim's face, causing him to fall.

The whole incident was captured on dashcam footage from Lee’s taxi.

Lim called the police at about 11am and he was taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in an ambulance. He was found to have suffered a collarbone fracture, abrasions over his elbow and knee, and a minor head injury among others.

He was discharged on the same day with 14 days of hospitalisation leave.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Bryont Chin sought a fine of S$4,000 to S$,5000, close to the maximum fine that can be imposed for affray offences. He argued that the custodial threshold was not crossed but that the harm caused warranted such a high fine.

In mitigation, Lee’s lawyer — Mr Lee Shen Han from Bonsai Law — told the court that his client tried to de-escalate the matter multiple times and had no intention for it to become a fight.

Lee has also made restitution to the other taxi driver for his medical fees.