SINGAPORE - A technician who was convicted of fighting with two men at the departure car lane of Woodlands Checkpoint was jailed for three weeks on Thursday (Aug 18).

Malaysian Ruttiran Tamilarasan, 26, was found guilty after a one-day trial of fighting with Mr Leow Hock Guan, 41, and Mr Ng Chee Kiang, 42. The three were punching and kicking each other at Woodlands Crossing at around midnight on Dec 2 last year.

The prosecution's case is that the two Singaporeans were in a car heading towards Johor Baru that evening when Ruttiran's motorcycle cut into the path of the vehicle they were in. There was heavy traffic at the time.

Mr Ng sounded the horn and Ruttiran flashed his middle finger. A short while later, the rider cut into Mr Ng's lane again and again Mr Ng again sounded the horn.

When Mr Ng tried to overtake Ruttiran, the latter kicked the car. Mr Leow got out of the car and was shoved by Ruttiran who also used his helmet to hit the construction supervisor.

Mr Ng then got out of the vehicle and some scuffling ensued before a fight broke out with Ruttiran using his helmet to hit the two men.

Some motorists stepped in to separate the fighting parties, but Ruttiran persisted in trying to use his helmet to hit the two men. He then used the helmet to hit the car more than once.

Ruttiran said in his defence he was "confused''. He claimed that he was hit on the helmet by Mr Ng and Mr Leow until his helmet came off, leaving him feeling very vulnerable.

A video played in court showed Ruttiran swinging his helmet and kicking at Mr Ng and Mr Leow. The duo were also seen punching and kicking Ruttiran.

Ruttiran said in his mitigation that he was supporting his parents and two siblings. He said he had been working in Singapore for seven years and was sorry that he could not control his emotions, and asked the court to be lenient.

District Judge Lee Poh Choo said disorderly behaviour especially in this case at Woodlands checkpoint could not be condoned . She said it was "unacceptable excuse and very lame'' for Ruttiran to say that because of his emotions, he did not know what he was doing.

She agreed with Assistant Public Prosecutor Dillon Kok who pointed out that Ruttiran had shown absolutely no remorse.

Mr Ng and Mr Leow had served their one-week sentence each last month after pleading guilty to the fighting charge.

The maximum punishment is one year's jail and a $5,000 fine.