Ex-LTA officer jailed, fined for brawl with Uber driver

The former Land Transport Authority (LTA) officer who was engaged in a public brawl with an Uber driver at a Bugis Junction taxi stand last November was on Friday (May 27) sentenced to a day's jail and fined S$2,000.

While on duty, Tan Hock Guan, 51, then an LTA officer, reacted to verbal taunts by Uber driver Goh Kok Ling, 60. He threw the first punch at Goh, and a brawl ensued until a passer-by intervened.  

Goh's passenger filmed the incident and posted it online, and Tan was suspended by LTA shortly after the video went viral. 

In court on Friday, the deputy public prosecutor said that Tan, who pleaded guilty to two charges for affray and verbally abusing Goh, had gotten caught up in a "mutual display of disorderly aggression" that disrupted public peace. 

The ex-LTA officer, who was unrepresented in court, served his jail term on Friday. 

For affray, both Tan and Goh faced up to a year in jail and a fine of S$5,000, and for verbally abusing Goh, Tan faced up to six months’ jail and a fine of S$5,000. 

Goh, who was also charged with similar offences, will be due in court next Monday for a pre-trial conference.
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He faces a heftier penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to S$5,000 for verbally abusing Tan, as he did so while Tan, who was then a public servant, was attempting to carry out his duty as a traffic enforcement officer.