In a video that has since resurfaced online, 73-year-old Mr Tay Bok Leng was caught on camera chasing after a bus in a taxi in what appears to be an attempt to catch up to the vehicle.
The incident happened on 14 January 2022.
In response to the bus failing to stop for him, the man could be seen running towards a stationary taxi before getting into the vehicle and instructing the driver to chase after the bus.
After chasing after the bus for 5km, the retiree eventually caught up and boarded the bus just to shout “f*** you”, “good for nothing”, and other vulgarities at the 67-year-old bus driver.
Having committed the crime before the ease of mask regulations, he was fined $6,000 for harassing a public service worker by using abusive words and not wearing his mask properly.
How the Incident Went Down
The SBS bus captain, who was on duty for bus service 13 on the fateful day, did not stop along his route at Lavender Street as he failed to spot anyone waiting at the bus stop.
However, after passing the bus stop, he noticed, albeit a bit belatedly, that Mr Tay and his friend were aggressively waving their hands to flag down the bus. The bus captain did not manage to stop for them as he could not find a spot on the road to stop safely.
Perhaps misunderstanding the bus captain to be ignoring him on purpose, Mr Tay and his friend proceeded to flag down a taxi to follow the bus along its route.
When they finally caught up to the bus along Still Road in the Joo Chiat area, Mr Tay was noticeably angered. Despite warnings from his friend, he confronted the bus captain by hurling multiple vulgarities at him.
His behaviour understandably alarmed passengers on the bus, prompting them to report him to the police. Following an investigation, prosecutors concluded that his actions were on the verge of reaching the threshold for a custodial sentence, and any further aggravation could have resulted in imprisonment.
In addition, a presiding prosecutor noted Mr Tay’s pursuit of the bus driver as a display of his vindictive attitude.
Not Satisfied With Ruling
Despite admitting his wrongdoing and pleading guilty to the judge, Mr Tay expressed that he still believed he deserved an apology from the bus captain.
According to him, he and four other individuals had been waiting at the bus stop for 20 minutes. Upon witnessing the bus pass by without stopping, he understandably felt angry.
This action further aggravated him, as he claimed that he can not sit or stand for long due to his weak legs. He then asked the judge to give him a lighter fine, considering he is retired and has no income.
Not the First Case of Harassment Towards Bus Drivers
This is not the first time unsatisfied commuters have harassed bus drivers in Singapore. A similar case in November 2022 reported that a woman who missed her stop attacked the bus driver of the vehicle she was on because she believed he had purposely failed to let her alight.
Mr Chee Hong Tat, the Senior Minister of State for Transport, emphasised that there would be no tolerance for abusive behaviour and warned that those who engage in such conduct could face imprisonment of up to 12 months, a fine of up to $5,000, or both penalties under the Protection from Harassment Act.
Individuals found guilty of voluntarily causing harm under the Penal Code could face imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both penalties.
He also added that he would be prepared to reevaluate these existing measures if deemed inadequate.
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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