SINGAPORE - A 49-year-old man punched and kicked a construction worker on an MRT train when he failed to give up his seat quickly enough to an elderly woman.

Chin Poh Heng, an odd-job labourer, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two weeks' jail on Wednesday (May 18) to one charge of causing hurt, with one previous charge of criminal intimidation taken into consideration.

On Sept 2 last year, near midnight, Chin was on the train going towards Newton station in the same cabin as Mr Chen Zongxi, 32, a Chinese national. Mr Chen was sitting on a reserved seat and had drunk several cans of beer before the journey.

When an elderly woman boarded the train, Chin asked Mr Chen to give up his seat to her.

Mr Chen then told Chin he needed time to stand up, due to the alcohol he drank.

Chin was agitated by Mr Chen's slow response and punched the left side of his head several times, leaving bruises. He also kicked him in the stomach.

District Judge Hamidah Ibrahim noted Chin's history of related offences, including a similar charge of causing hurt in 2010.

For his offence, Chin could have been jailed for up to two years and fined up to $5,000.