Man jailed for punching taxi driver after ride

A 30-year old jobless man has been sentenced to three weeks' jail for launching an unprovoked attacked on a taxi driver.

The incident took place at Serangoon North Avenue 3 on 10^th November 2012, when Bryan Mark Adam Perera punched 60-year old Mr. Ang Khuan in the stomach after taking a ride in his cab.

Perera was seated next to the victim when he told him he had no cash on him. The cabby then advised him to pay with Nets or credit card, and Perera chose the latter.

But after paying up, Perera did not alight. Instead, he started shouting at the driver before punching him in the stomach. Perera continued to shout at the driver after both of them got out of the cab. The commotion attracted the attention of Perera's family members, who arrived at the scene shortly and tried to calm him down.

In defence, Perera's lawyer said his client was under the influence of alcohol that night and was remorseful for his actions. He had been convicted of disorderly behaviour twice in 2005. 

For inflicting verbal and physical abuse on his victim unprovoked, Perera could have been jailed for two years and/or fined up to $5,000.