RM1,000 fine for road-bully cabbie

KUALA LUMPUR: TAXI driver Chong Kim Fah was fined RM1,000 for slapping a female motorist in a road rage incident on Monday.

Magistrate Nur A’Minahtul Mardiah Md Nor fined the 48-year-old yesterday for hurting Tan Yun Ceat, 26, at Jalan Angsoka, off Jalan Nagasari, Dang Wangi here, at 7.40am.

€ŽTan, who worked at an insurance firm, was driving from Bandar Menjalara towards Jalan Raja Chulan via the two-way Jalan Angsoka, which was congested with illegally-parked vehicles on both sides.

Chong’s cab approached from the opposite lane and honked for her to give way. When Tan did not do so, the accused rammed his taxi into her car.

Chong and the victim alighted from their cars and got into an argument before he slapped Tan on both cheeks and pinched her lip, leaving her with a bleeding left lip.

She later lodged a police report at the Dang Wangi police station after getting outpatient treatment at Selayang Hospital. Tan shared her account of the incident, as well as photographs of her bleeding left lip and the cars, on Facebook, which immediately went viral.

Police picked up Chong on Tuesday and he was charged yesterday.

The bespectacled, grey-haired man was calm as he pleaded guilty to the charge and admitted to the case facts, both of which were read to him in Mandarin by an interpreter. He also confirmed photographic evidence shown to him in court depicting Tan’s injured lip.

Nur A’Minahtul fined Chong RM1,000 and ordered him to serve two months’ jail in default.

In Petaling Jaya, an administrative officer, who allegedly hammered a retiree’s vehicle with a steering lock, claimed trial to causing damage and mischief at the magistrate’s court here yesterday.

Ridhwan Rahmat, 32, was accused of hitting the hood and windshield of a car belonging to Chin Saw Thon with a steering lock at Jalan Persiaran Tujuan, Subang Jaya, USJ 8, Goodyear Court 5 here, at 2.30pm on Nov 15.

The accused also faced a second charge of using criminal intimidation on the 67-year old victim at the same place and time.

Magistrate Salamiah Salleh imposed RM7,000 bail for both charges and fixed Dec 3 for mention.

Earlier, the victim, who was present in court, said he did not want to pursue the matter.

The court then allowed a representation to be made to the Attorney-General’s Chambers to drop the charges against the accused.