SINGAPORE - A Briton who swung his hands upwards and hit a policeman in his left eye area was jailed for five weeks on Thursday (Jan 21).

Phillip Hall, 39, who was drunk then, was also fined a total of $1,400 for pushing a motorist on the chest and damaging the backrest of a wooden bench at the police lock-up holding bay last October.

Hall, who was on social visit pass, pleaded guilty to hurting Special Constabulary Corporal Muhammad Mahadhir Khamis in a police car; pushing Mr Choo Led Sin, 45, on the chest; and committing mischief. Three other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

Deputy Public Prosecutor James Chew said Mr Choo was driving his car very slowly along Tanjong Pagar Road at about 10.20pm on Oct 20 due to other vehicles stopping ahead of him when Hall kicked the front of his car while crossing the road.

Hall had been drinking with some friends nearby.

Mr Choo came out of the car and shouted at Hall, who approached him aggressively, and pushed him once on the chest.

Hall continued to behave aggressively towards Mr Choo until other passers-by intervened and stopped him. The police were called.

He was arrested and his wrists were handcuffed in front of him.

While being driven to Central Police Division in a car, he asked that his handcuffs be removed but this was rejected.

He became aggressive and struggled vigorously. He then swung his hands upwards towards SC Cpl Mahadhir's face, hitting him near his left eye.

At the police station, Hall was taken to the lock-up holding bay. While seated on a wooden bench with his right hand handcuffed to a metal rail, Hall became agitated and started shouting. He then used his left elbow and smashed it against the wooden backrest several times until there was a hole. The damage amounted to $96.

He could have been jailed for up to seven years for hurting a public servant in the discharge of his duties. The maximum punishment for using criminal force other than on grave and sudden provocation is three months' jail and a $1,500 fine; and for mischief, one year's jail and a fine.