The very viral and public altercation between an Uber driver and a Land Transport Authority (LTA) enforcement officer at Victoria Street saw its day in court last Friday, with both parties getting charged.
The two had gone into fisticuffs at the taxi stand of Bugis Junction, when 60-year-old Uber driver Goh Kok Ling was picking up a passenger. However, only taxis were allowed to stop there, and the LTA officer — 51-year-old Tan Hock Guan — severely berated Goh. Fightin’ words and vulgarities were exchanged and the two got into a brawl, which ended with Goh on the floor, receiving a kick to his ribcage before a bystander broke it up.
LTA suspended the officer in the aftermath of public outcry when the video — captured by the Uber passenger Amber Pek — went viral.
Though it may seem that Tan was more at fault, both parties were charged over fighting with each other and using abusive words. The Straits Times reports that Tan wished to plead guilty to both charges while Goh wanted to claim trial to the second charge under the Protection from Harassment Act.
Tan’s case has been fixed for mention on Apr 19 when he is expected to plead guilty, while Goh’s pre-trial conference has been set for May 9.
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