Ex-cabby gets mandatory treatment order and three-year ban for series of offences

A former Trans-Cab taxi driver, who went on a rampage by ramming into 10 cars in a hit-and-run spree islandwide was sentenced to undergo mandatory treatment order for two years, on Wednesday. -- FILE PHOTO: SHIN MIN
A former Trans-Cab taxi driver, who went on a rampage by ramming into 10 cars in a hit-and-run spree islandwide was sentenced to undergo mandatory treatment order for two years, on Wednesday. -- FILE PHOTO: SHIN MIN

A former Trans-Cab taxi driver, who went on a rampage by ramming into 10 cars in a hit-and-run spree islandwide was sentenced to undergo mandatory treatment order for two years, on Wednesday.

Tan Khim Seng, alias Muhammad Khairul Tan Abdullah, who has been suffering from bipolar disorder for the last 20 years was also banned from driving for three years. The 51-year-old had admitted to 10 charges with 39 others taken into consideration. They included careless, rash and dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, using criminal force on a public servant and mischief.

A Community Court heard that on Dec 12 in 2011, Tan was driving along Tampines Avenue 5 when he high-beamed a car, inched into the victim's lane and grazed the right side of the car. After speeding off and overtaking the car, he abruptly jammed his brakes, causing the front of the car to hit his taxi.

Tan alighted and yelled at the driver, choked his neck and put his fist on the victim's cheek. He even tried to open the driver's door. Forty-five minutes later, he was involved in a slight collision with a taxi. He used a windscreen wiper to smash the headlights, windscreens and tail-lights of the taxi, which had a dent infront.

By then, police had been alerted to look out for Tan's taxi.

Along Jurong Canal Drive, a patrol car was trying to pull beside Tan when he swerved into the police officer's path. He refused to stop and continued driving and beating the red lights, forcing pedestrians to stop and give way to him at Jurong East Avenue 1.

Tan was eventually arrested at Boon Lay Avenue by Boon Lay Drive. He was forcibly removed from his taxi. Tan then grabbed the officer from the front and pulled his lanyard which broke.

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