Video of supposed fare-evading commuter shouting at SBS bus inspector from July 2023

SBS Transit said the case has been referred to the police.

Daniel Seow | February 21, 2024, 05:40 PM

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A 2023 video of a young man's aggressive response to a bus inspector confronting him for evading fares —  to the extent of hurling vulgarities and swiping at the inspector's body camera — has been making the rounds of late.

It started getting recirculated on Facebook on Feb. 21, 2024 and has subsequently has gone viral on the platform.

The video on the "SG Warehouse Sale & Events" page, for instance, has been shared more than 1,800 times.

Screenshot from SG Warehouse Sale & Events / Facebook.

In response to Mothership's enquiries, SBS Transit confirmed that the incident took place on Jul. 31, 2023.

The video

The original video was uploaded to TikTok on the day of the incident, by user "kurttayfanboy".

In the video, the bus inspector can be seen talking to a passenger on the upper deck who was clad in a red shirt.

During the conversation, the man flared up and got to his feet abruptly, while slamming a plastic bag on the seat.

"Oi!" he shouted, before pulling down his mask.

GIF from kurttayfanboy / TikTok.

Unfazed, the inspector held up his body camera to record the incident.

The man tried to slap it away but failed.

This prompted another passenger in a white shirt to get up and stand in between the two men.

GIF from kurttayfanboy / TikTok.

The man in red then swore in Hokkien and told the inspector, "Don't test my patience lah."

The two of them continued arguing about the man's unpaid fare, with the man saying he didn't have a fare card.

When the bus inspector asked him to "pay [the fare] again", the man also said he didn't have spare cash or coins.

The inspector concluded by saying he would make a report about the matter as the man was insistent on not paying the fare.

Online users criticise man's behaviour

Most online users criticised the red-shirted man's behaviour.

Some called him out for being "shameless" and "arrogant" despite allegedly being in the wrong for evading fares.

"Most shameless yp (young punk) I've ever seen...taking free bus ride still so arrogant," one wrote.

While some felt that the man genuinely may not have had enough money for the fare, one user pointed out that the unpaid fare wasn't as concerning as the fact that he had used violence and threats against a bus inspector.

A few users also lauded the passenger who stepped in and prevented things from getting physical.

"Good job bro...you saved the youngster from facing harsh punishment," the user wrote.

July 2023 case has been referred to police: SBS

SBS Transit spokesperson Grace Wu told Mothership that the incident occurred on Jul. 31, 2023 on board Service 80.

"The case has since been referred to the police," she added.

Fare evasion is an offence in Singapore.

According to TransitLink regulations, commuters found to have evaded fares are liable to pay a penalty fee of S$50, and failure to pay such fees can result in court action.

This fee can be imposed by fare inspectors or other public transport staff.

Public transport staff also have the power to ask for personal details of suspected offenders.

Commuters can be detained or referred to a police officer if they refuse to comply.

Not the first time

This is not the first time abuse of public transport staff in Singapore has come under the spotlight.

In October 2020, then-Senior Minister of State for Transport Chee Hong Tat said in Parliament that the government takes a zero tolerance approach towards abusive behaviours directed at public transport workers.

This was following a spate of incidents in 2020 where bus captains were verbally or physically abused for enforcing public health measures on public transport.

In November 2021, a man was fined S$3,500 for hurling vulgarities at a bus driver who told him to wear his mask properly, ST reported.

And in April 2023, a 73-year-old retiree hailed a taxi to catch up with a bus that didn't stop for him, so he could verbally abuse the driver. He was fined S$6,000.

Top image from kurttayfanboy / TikTok.