SINGAPORE - An unemployed man who slashed a taxi driver with a chopper was sentenced to 22 months' jail and three strokes of the cane on Tuesday (Dec 22).
Goh Tong Chien, 22, who faced six charges, admitted to slashing Mr Sazali Abdullah, 58, on his right index finger, left lower lip and forehead with the weapon near Chinese Cemetery Path 11 along Lim Chu Kang Road at about 1 am on May 14.
His 22-year-old girlfriend Eng Wan Fong, and Tan Jing Zi, 23, also admitted to having the common intention to cause hurt to the cabby with the chopper. They were both unemployed. They will be sentenced later.
The trio were accused originally of attempted robbery with hurt.
A district court heard that they talked about their financial and family problems when they met at a block in Tampines Street 41 on the evening of May 13.
Before that, Goh and Eng had brought along a chopper which was wrapped in newspaper and placed inside a green bag.
Goh suggested that they find an old taxi driver to rob, and the two agreed.
At about midnight, they flagged Mr Sazali's Trans-Cab taxi and asked to go to the Chinese cemetery at Choa Chu Kang Road.
During the journey, Goh spoke to Eng and Tan in Mandarin, telling them to run out of the taxi and act as look-outs while he would use the chopper to hurt the victim and rob him.
When the taxi reached the junction of Old Choa Chu Kang Road, Eng told the cabby to continue driving till Lim Chu Kang Chinese Cemetery Path 11.
When Mr Sazali got there, both Eng and Tan dashed out of the vehicle. Goh took out the chopper and started slashing the driver from behind. Mr Sazali used his right hand to fend off the attacks. He was slashed on his right index finger, left lower lip and forehead.
When Goh saw so much blood being splattered all over, he got scared and fled. He threw away the chopper and his left slipper slipped off.
The victim then drove out of the cemetery to the main road before calling the police. He was given 17 days of medical leave.
All three were arrested three hours later.
Goh also admitted to punching his 55-year-old aunt, Ms Goh Bee Cheng, on her eye at a flat in Bedok Reservoir Road on Feb 24; as well as stealing two cans of beer at Smiles Mart in Eunos Crescent in August last year.
The court heard that Goh returned home drunk past midnight on Feb 24. Two of his aunts were watching television while a third was in her bedroom.
Later, Goh came out of his bedroom and shouted at his two aunts, asking where his mobile phone was.
The aunt in the bedroom came out and told him that his phone was on the dining table. Goh walked to her bedroom and banged on her door. He became violent. When Ms Goh Bee Cheng called the police, Goh shouted at her and punched her on the left eye, causing it to swell.
District Judge Low Wee Ping backdated Goh's sentence to May 15.
He postponed sentencing on Eng and Tan, pending probation reports on Jan 26. The two had also pleaded guilty to a second charge of stealing two cellphone accessories worth $120 at Challenger store in Tampines on May 6 with Goh and Tan's girlfriend.
