Man Pressed the Emergency Stop Plunger to Stop the Train Coz’ His Phone Slipped onto the MRT Train Tracks

How far would you go to retrieve something you’ve lost?

Would you wait it out and retrieve it only when it’s deemed alright to do so?

Or would you push ahead and get it, even if it would mean inconveniencing many, many other people?

Because for one particular man, it was the latter.

And it appears that he may soon face the wrath of the court.

Man Pressed the Emergency Stop Plunger to Stop the Train Coz’ His Phone Slipped onto the MRT Train Tracks

According to The Straits Times, Clement Joshua Tan Teck Kim, 48, had been boarding the train on 29 February 2020 when he inadvertently dropped his phone onto the tracks.

He proceeded to seek assistance, but was informed by an SMRT station manager that he can only retrieve the phone the following day.

Unless it’s an emergency, train services cannot be interrupted.

However, Tan reportedly insisted on having his way, and had to be escorted out of the station by the police.

At around 3:50 p.m. that day, roughly four hours and fifty minutes after the incident occurred, Tan returned to Buona Vista MRT station.

According to the news report, he informed the staff that he urgently required his phone, as his baby was down with fever and he had to interact with his girlfriend.

The reason was shot down, however, as it did not classify as an emergency.

But Tan paid no heed.

Dismissing the staff’s advice, he went ahead and pressed the emergency stop plunger. At this point, a staff member attempted to intervene, but failed.

As a result, a train had to temporarily cease services for two minutes.

Tan then did a Jason Bourne and began hitting the road. When a security officer attempted to halt him, Tan launched a punch at the officer, causing a minor facial contusion.

You can almost hear the titular track from the Bourne series playing here.

Despite Tan’s best efforts, however, he found himself being hauled later that next day.

Sentencing

In court, Tan said he was “truly sorry for causing the hurt and inconvenience to the people involved”.

“I don’t know how I can make amends to what I’ve done,” he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Public Prosecutor Tay Zhi Jie stated that Tan has been ascertained by the Institute of Mental Health to have schizophrenia.

Further assessment would have to be done to decide whether the psychiatric factor had played a part in things.

Tan is due to return to court on 21 May 2021.

For causing a public nuisance, he could face an imprisonment term of up to three months and a hefty fine of S$2,000.

What Should You Really Do?

Instead of violating the law like Tan, individuals who have dropped their accessories onto the train tracks should instead inform the service’s passenger service center and practice patience.

“Passengers should report it to the station’s passenger service centre with details of where they had dropped their items, the train’s direction of travel and the platform screen door number, ” says SBS Transit’s senior vice president for corporate communications Tammy Tan.

Thus far, all mobile phones have been passed back to their owners without any loss in function.

Staff may also retrieve your phone once rush hour’s over, as there will be sufficient time intervals between each train for retrieval.

Apparently, passengers have dropped a number of accessories too.

These include keys, footwear, toys, jewellery and somehow, spectacles.

Featured Image: Google Maps