A 63-year-old Singapore taxi driver has been sentenced to jail after molesting an 18-year-old female passenger whilst driving along the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE). The case has raised fresh concerns over passenger safety in the ride-hailing industry, particularly regarding the vulnerability of young commuters using app-based transport services.
According to CNA, Leong Wing Fatt was driving for ride-hailing platform Tada at the time of the incident. Following his conviction, he was handed a 10-day custodial sentence.
The case shines a spotlight on a growing conversation around public transport safety, ride-hailing regulations, and the legal protections available to passengers in Singapore.
How the Incident Unfolded
The incident occurred on 1st December 2024, when the victim — a Singaporean teenager — booked a Tada ride and took her seat in the rear of the vehicle. During the journey, the driver and passenger engaged in conversation, after which Leong suggested that the young woman move to the front passenger seat, citing the inconvenience of having to turn his head to speak with her.
The passenger agreed to the request, and Leong pulled over to the road shoulder to allow her to relocate to the front seat. Once she had done so and the journey resumed along the PIE, Leong used his left hand to hold the girl’s left hand without her consent. He also placed his hand on her thigh, over her clothing — again, without her agreement.
The court was told that the victim did not consent to either act of physical contact. The entire sequence of events painted a picture of a deliberate and calculated intrusion on the passenger’s personal boundaries.
Caught on FaceTime by Friend
What proved pivotal in securing evidence against Leong was a seemingly unrelated circumstance — the victim had been on a FaceTime video call with a friend throughout the duration of the ride. Leong was entirely unaware that the call was active and that his actions were being observed in real time by another person.
The friend, who was on the receiving end of the video call, recorded the footage. This recording subsequently became a key piece of evidence in the case against Leong, providing an unambiguous visual account of the molestation as it occurred inside the moving vehicle.
Leong was arrested on 4th April 2025 on charges of outrage of modesty, before being formally charged in court.
Sentencing and Legal Implications
During sentencing proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Joel Fun described Leong’s behaviour as “predatory” in nature, and called for a jail term of between three and five weeks. He emphasised that members of the public ought to be able to travel safely, and argued that an appropriate custodial sentence would serve as a clear deterrent to public transport workers who might harbour inappropriate intentions towards passengers.
Leong was ultimately sentenced to 10 days in jail. Under Singapore law, a conviction for molestation carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment and a fine. As Leong is over 50 years of age, he is not eligible to receive caning as part of his sentence.
Wider Concerns Over Passenger Safety in Ride-Hailing Services
This case has reignited public discourse surrounding passenger safety in Singapore’s rapidly growing ride-hailing sector. Platforms such as Grab, Gojek, and Tada have become integral to daily commuting, particularly among younger demographics — yet incidents such as this one underscore the risks that can arise when trust is abused by those in a position of responsibility.
Legal experts and commuter advocacy groups have previously called for stronger regulatory frameworks governing driver conduct, including more rigorous background screening and mandatory safety training. The use of in-vehicle surveillance technology has also been proposed as a means of deterring misconduct and protecting both passengers and drivers.
For many passengers — especially young women travelling alone — cases like this serve as a sobering reminder of the importance of personal safety precautions, such as sharing trip details with trusted contacts and remaining vigilant throughout their journey.