25-year-old Malaysian Naavin Gopalan, was charged on 13 June with 2 counts of causing hurt by rash act and another count of mischief following an altercation with a grey Mercedes driver on 17 January earlier this year.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on 10 July to 3 weeks imprisonment, as well as being banned from driving upon his release from prison.
The incident occurred at a traffic light junction in Clementi, where the 25-year-old male driver of the red Mercedes confronted the 46-year-old female driver of the grey Mercedes after the former got upset at the latter for being too close while changing lanes.
The altercation resulted in the man hurling vulgarities, kicking her car, pushing her to the ground, and attempting to leave the scene; as the woman then tried to block him from fleeing by standing in front of his car.
What happened?
The confrontation unfolded at the traffic light junction of Clementi Road and Sunset Way on January 17, 2023, when the red Mercedes driver felt that the grey Mercedes driver was getting too close while changing lanes.
Both vehicles came to a stop at the traffic light junction in Clementi, and the man confronted the woman. The situation quickly turned heated as the woman responded by shouting expletives, further provoking the man’s anger. He retaliated by hurling vulgarities and kicking her car door and side mirror multiple times.
After the verbal exchange, the man returned to his car intending to leave the scene. However, the woman stood in front of his car, preventing him from doing so.
In a disturbing turn of events, the man slowly drove forward, briefly pushing against the woman before getting out of his car and pushing her to the ground.
The altercation resulted in the woman suffering abrasions on her knees, shins, and left elbow. Additionally, her car incurred substantial damage, amounting to S$2,235 for repairs, which Naavin did not pay.