SINGAPORE - A project executive was jailed for six weeks on Tuesday for punching a taxi driver on his face and head, breaking his nose.

Joshua Maung Wai Kit, 24, had earlier pleaded guilty to causing hurt to Mr Mohamed Zaki Md Jizan, 32, who suffered a broken nose and multiple bruises after he was attacked at a carpark at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 on June 22 this year.

The court heard that at about 3am that day, Maung and his girlfriend boarded Mr Mohamed Zaki's taxi at Clarke Quay.

The driver dropped off his girlfriend at Toa Payoh before proceeding to Ang Mo Kio.

By then, Maung had drunk more than 10 glasses of hard liquor and was feeling tired and sleepy. During the journey, he also vomited in the taxi.

When the taxi arrived at carpark at Block 450, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, Maung and the driver had a dispute over payment for the taxi fare. In anger, Maung punched Mr Mohamed Zaki on his face and head a few times.

Maung said he had offered to pay about $450 to the driver, who refused his compensation and wanted to pursue his own civil claim instead.

District Judge Victor Yeo took this into account. He noted the injuries caused by multiple punches were on vulnerable parts of the victim's body, and that the attack happened at 3.30am, which was a more vulnerable time for public transport workers.

Maung, who pleaded for leniency, could have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined up to $5,000.