S'pore man punches bus driver 3 times along SLE, tries to steer bus into tree, gets over 15 weeks' jail

While travelling along the highway, a 24-year-old Singaporean man punched a Tower Transit bus driver and asked him to stop the bus so he could alight.

When the 50-year-old driver replied that he could only do so at the next bus stop, Cheng Yuan Kang grabbed the steering wheel to try and crash the bus into a tree.

Cheng also used the bus's emergency hammer to smash a window and punched his mother before threatening the driver with more violence.

For his actions, Cheng was sentenced to 14 weeks and 10 days’ jail on Feb. 26, The Straits Times reported.

Punched driver and asked to alight on highway

Based on court documents, Cheng and his mother had boarded bus service 969 towards Tampines on the morning of Jan. 6.

While on the bus, Cheng's mother received a call from Cheng's acquaintance,"Kathy", informing her about a change of plans.

Kathy said that she would not meet Cheng at the entrance to a car show they would be attending that weekend, but at a booth instead.

Cheng was angered after hearing this.

So at about 9:15am, Cheng went to the front of the bus and punched the driver three times.

Court documents indicated that Cheng asked to alight as he wanted to "escape".

The driver replied that he could not stop as the bus was travelling on the Seletar Expressway (SLE) at the time.

He offered to let Cheng off at the next bus stop instead.

Tried to steer bus into tree, smashed window

However, Cheng responded by holding onto the steering wheel with both hands, intending to crash it into a tree.

In their brief struggle, the bus jerked momentarily but the driver managed to push Cheng away before he could turn the wheel.

Cheng then walked towards the back of the bus and used the emergency hammer to hit a window, smashing it.

He warned a few of the passengers not to call the police or he would go after their family.

Cheng also went over to his mother and punched her in the face twice before kicking her in the shin.

Then, Chen walked back to the driver and threatened him with injury, saying, “Let me alight, or I will kill you”.

Arrested

At the next bus stop, the driver stopped the bus, and Cheng and the other passengers got off.

The driver also informed his company of the incident, and they notified the police.

Later that morning, the driver went to the emergency department of Sengkang General Hospital.

He was found to have bruising to his brain tissue near his left ear as a result of Cheng's actions.

Cheng was arrested the same day.

Pleaded guilty

Cheng pleaded guilty to one count each for voluntarily causing hurt, committing a rash act and criminal intimidation on Feb. 26, ST reported.

In their submissions, the prosecution sought a sentence of 14 weeks and 10 days’ jail for Cheng.

The prosecutor argued for the need for deterrence as Cheng had attacked a public transport worker, and pointed out that he could have caused the victim to lose control of the bus, to the risk of other passengers.

In April 2024, Cheng was given eight weeks' jail for throwing a flowerpot, two kitchen knives and two penknives from the eighth floor of a HDB block.

He was also sentenced to three months' jail in October 2024 for sending emails to prisons officers threatening to injure them.

The court heard that Cheng is seeing a doctor at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) as he has difficulties with impulsiveness and emotional regulation, according to ST.

However, Cheng's doctor said Cheng was aware of his actions and the consequences at the time of the offence.

Ultimately, the judge assessed that Cheng's risk of reoffending was high, and added that his sentence must serve as both a deterrent and to protect the public.

Cheng was sentenced to 14 weeks and 10 days’ jail.

Top image from Canva