SINGAPORE - A business development manager who kicked the rear passenger door of a taxi was fined $1,200 on Friday (Nov 6) for mischief.

Briton Malcolm Richard Manson, 54, had pleaded guilty to committing the offence near Liang Court shopping centre along River Valley Road at 1.44am on June 1, 2013.

He was given a discharge amounting to an acquittal for punching taxi driver Chua Kwee Hwa, 37, on the cheek after the charge was withdrawn. He had compensated the victim $2,000.

The court heard that Mr Chua was driving and queuing up in the taxi queue at the taxi stand at Liang Court when Manson tried to board it. He tried to open the rear left passenger door but it was locked.

Mr Chua then wound down the rear left window and told Manson that he could not pick him up as he was not queuing up at the taxi stand.

Manson then put his hand through the rear left window and tried to open the door from the inside.

At this juncture, Mr Chua drove the vehicle two car-lengths forward. Manson kicked the rear left passenger door, resulting in a dent. He has since paid $200 for the cost of repair to the damage.

He could have been jailed for up to one year and/or fined for mischief.