2 plead guilty to punching car washer
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Elena Chong
The Straits Times
Thursday, Mar 27, 2014
SINGAPORE - A manager who punched a car washer in a spat over $2 was sentenced to five weeks' jail on Monday.
Mohamed Jefri Mohamed Derus had hit Mr Li Lei, 30, at the SPC petrol station in Havelock Road at about 1.40am on April 10 last year. Delivery driver Abdul Razak Umar, who was with Jefri, was also fined $3,000 for punching Mr Li.
The two men, both 32, had pleaded guilty. Jefri also admitted to driving his BMW in a rash manner towards the Chinese national, who was standing in front of his car.
The court heard that last April, Jefri had driven his BMW through the car wash of the petrol station before alighting with Abdul Razak and another passenger, leaving the car for Mr Li to wipe dry.
Jefri returned shortly and was rebuffed when he asked Mr Li for a $2 discount off the $8 service.
Jefri paid up but later asked Mr Li if he was unhappy. Mr Li said this was not the case. Jefri then went over to Mr Li and pushed him on the chest and punched him on the cheek, causing a cut on the bottom left corner of his lips.
Mr Li called the police and told the two men not to leave but Abdul Razak pushed him on the chest and punched him on the cheek. The victim lost his balance and ended up on the floor beside the car.
When Jefri reversed the car to try to drive off, Mr Li stood in front of the car to stop him.
Despite seeing the victim standing there, Jefri released the brake pedal and the car moved forward. Its bonnet came into contact with Mr Li's legs. Due to the motion, Mr Li had to lean against the bonnet while he was still standing and was carried away on the bonnet for a short distance before rolling off.
The victim was not hurt and did not seek any medical treatment after the incident.
Jefri has a previous conviction for causing hurt. Both men could each have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined up to $5,000 for causing hurt.
