Trailer driver punctured tyre of bus that took his usual parking spot, ordered to serve community sentence

SINGAPORE — A trailer driver was on Thursday (Nov 3) sentenced to perform 40 hours of supervised community service for causing damage to a bus that had taken his usual parking spot.

Tan Chye Huat, 73, had pleaded guilty on Sept 28 to puncturing the bus’ tyre with a needle, as well as scratching it on multiple occasions.

He was handed a community service order on Thursday for one charge of mischief, with another similar charge taken into consideration during sentencing.

The prosecution previously sought a fine, on top of the compensation of S$2,500 that Tan had agreed to pay in instalments to the bus driver.

However, District Judge Eddy Tham had called for a report to assess if Tan was suitable for a community service order, given that it was Tan’s first time in court and he had agreed to make restitution.

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.

WHAT HAPPENED

Court documents showed that Tan had driven to a heavy vehicle car park along Bukit Batok East Avenue 2 on the night of July 30 last year, when he saw that a bus was occupying his usual parking spot, which made him unhappy.

About an hour later, Tan punctured one of the bus' tyres using a needle, resulting in damage amounting to S$30.

After that, on the same night, he caused further damage to the bus by brushing the rear of the vehicle with a bicycle and scratching it.

This formed the basis of the other charge that was taken into consideration.

Tan previously pleaded for the court's leniency, saying that he was remorseful over the crime that he had committed impulsively.

For each offence of mischief, Tan could have been jailed for up to two years or fined, or both.