A taxi driver in Singapore was fined S$7,700 and disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for three years after pleading guilty to voluntarily causing hurt and drink-driving. Lim Cheng Guan, a 46-year-old Singaporean, was sentenced on Wednesday (Feb 21) for the offences, which occurred on separate occasions.
In the first incident, Lim became involved in a physical fight at a KTV lounge on June 9 last year, where he smashed a beer jug on the victim’s head, causing two cuts near his eyebrows. The victim incurred S$143 in medical costs as a result. Lim’s actions were in response to an argument between the victim and four other males, including Lim, over fees that the group had allegedly not paid, reported Today.
Drink and Drive @ Jalan Besar
In the second incident, Lim was caught driving while under the influence of alcohol on Jan 10 last year. He had consumed four bottles of beer and drove his taxi to the Braddell ComfortDelgro Depot to pump petrol. A driver following behind Lim noticed that he was driving erratically and called the police, who found that Lim’s blood contained 162 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres, more than double the prescribed limit of 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres.
Lim has a history of traffic offences, including careless driving, failing to obey a red light, and speeding. The prosecution sought a total fine of between S$7,500 and S$8,200 for Lim’s two offences, noting that the taxi driver had voluntarily made restitution to the victim for the fight at the KTV lounge.
The sentence imposed on Lim reflects the seriousness of his offences and serves as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to engage in similar behaviour. It also highlights the importance of responsible drinking and the dangers of drink-driving, which can pose a serious risk to the safety of other road users. The disqualification of Lim’s driving licence for three years also underscores the importance of ensuring that individuals who engage in such behaviour are held accountable for their actions and prevented from driving for a period of time.