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30 weeks’ jail for man who pushed elderly woman onto MRT train floor because she stepped on his foot
Junabi Abu Bakar repeatedly hurled vulgarities and racist remarks at the victim and other passengers as they helped her up, challenging them to a fight.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Nadine Chua
Published Nov 28, 2025, 03:40 PM
Updated Nov 28, 2025, 04:21 PM
SINGAPORE - Enraged by a 76-year-old woman who accidentally stepped on his foot on the train, a man got up from his seat and pushed her hard, causing her to fall to the floor.
Junabi Abu Bakar then repeatedly hurled vulgarities and racist remarks at the victim and other passengers as they helped her up, challenging them to a fight.
In a separate incident later that same day, he also hurled vulgarities at a police officer who told him to stop harassing a teenage girl.
On Nov 28, Junabi, 65, was sentenced to 30 weeks in jail after pleading guilty to four charges, including using abusive words towards a public servant and voluntarily causing hurt.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Dillon Kok said that on Oct 11, Junabi boarded a train at Punggol MRT station at the same time as the 76-year-old woman and her husband.
In the cabin, Junabi sat down and removed his shoes. As the train departed from the station, the elderly woman inadvertently stepped on Junabi’s foot as she walked past him.
Incensed by this, Junabi immediately got up from his seat and pushed her hard, causing her to fall onto the floor.
He eventually alighted at Woodleigh MRT station.
The victim, who suffered a back injury, lodged a police report. She was given three days of medical leave.
On the same day, an off-duty police officer spotted Junabi speaking to a teenage girl at Paya Lebar MRT station.
Seeing the girl’s discomfort and attempts to walk away as Junabi continued following her, the officer approached Junabi and told him to stop harassing the girl.
Junabi got angry and started using vulgarities. When the officer flashed his warrant card and identified himself as a police officer, Junabi got more agitated and threw multiple punches at him.
The officer, who managed to dodge and block the blows from Junabi, then called the police for assistance, and followed Junabi onto a train.
Junabi was later arrested at Eunos MRT station, but was uncooperative and repeatedly used abusive and racist words towards the arresting officers, said the prosecutor.
Separately, on Sept 10, while Junabi was at his cleaning job at a condominium in Woodlands, he punched a fellow cleaner after a dispute.
The 65-year-old victim suffered a fracture to his left arm and bruising to his forehead, and was given 14 days’ hospitalisation leave. He made a police report.
Those found guilty of voluntarily causing hurt to a public servant can be jailed for up to seven years and shall be liable to a fine or to caning.
For using abusive words towards a public servant, an offender can be jailed for up to a year, fined up to $5,000, or both.
If convicted of voluntarily causing hurt, an offender can be jailed for up to three years, fined up to $5,000, or both.
