A MAN was yesterday arrested for driving a taxi without a licence and assaulting a police officer.
The 45-year-old, who was driving a Prime taxi, was spotted overtaking vehicles and weaving across lanes in Paya Lebar Road, in the direction of Upper Paya Lebar Road, at 7.25am yesterday.
No passenger was on board at the time.
He was stopped by traffic police during a routine patrol, and was asked to alight from the vehicle.
When he was asked to produce his driving licence, the man suddenly pushed a traffic policeman away and attempted to jump into the taxi to make a getaway.
According to a report in Chinese evening paper Shin Min Daily News, the officer then leapt forward and grabbed the man around his waist to prevent him from escaping.
The man struggled to shake free from the officer. He succeeded in pushing the officer onto the ground and threw punches and kicks at him.
Eyewitnesses rushed forward to stop the scuffle, and the man was arrested after police reinforcements were called in.
The Straits Times understands that the man was disqualified from driving in 2010, and that the taxi he was driving was not registered under his name. It is unclear if he had had a taxi licence in the past.
A police spokesman said investigations are ongoing.
He said the man was arrested for "driving while under disqualification and voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty".
Prime Taxi's deputy general manager Neo Chee Yong told The Straits Times it is a serious offence for a hirer to share his taxi with an unapproved driver.
"Firm action will be taken, pending the investigation outcome," he added.
Alamak now those who driving without taxi licence tio sabo by him liao lol
He must b desperate to drive taxi to bring bread to the table...
The hirer who let him drive will kena 21 points, licence revoked and face court action.
Originally posted by Taxilim88:The hirer who let him drive will kena 21 points, licence revoked and face court action.
Orbi goot.
Actually between hirer and relief....
Do you all check with each other, whether got valid TDVL or not?.....
I know (my circle of those si kakis) some of them will just let those "ba pao" TD drive their taxi without registering with coy, most time is very last min type....