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SINGAPORE - He hopped into a taxi with a friend at Tanjong Pagar Road in May last year, but after finding out that the driver was ending his shift and would be unable to ferry him, British national David William Barker grabbed the cabby by the neck in anger.
On Monday, Mr Barker, head of group engineering and fleet planning at Tiger Aviation, pleaded guilty and was given a conditional discharge by a district court, after the driver, Mr Phua Kok Khoon, told District Judge James Leong that he had accepted the Briton's apology and S$1,500 in compensation.
The court heard how Mr Phua had dropped a passenger off at Tanjong Pagar Road at about 11pm on May 8. Mr Barker, 58, and his friend got into the taxi immediately and told the driver to take them to the east coast.
When Mr Phua replied that he was going off work and was not taking any more passengers, Mr Barker, who became a Permanent Resident recently, got angry and threatened to lodge a complaint with the taxi company.
An argument ensued and Mr Barker grabbed the driver's neck. He only released his grip after Mr Phua struggled.
Both passengers later alighted to board another taxi, but Mr Phua called the police and followed the men.
Realising that the cabby had called the police, Mr Barker followed him back to the taxi and waited for the police to arrive.
Asking for a conditional discharge, defence lawyer Chia Boon Teck said the Briton did not try to flee when he knew the police had been called, but stayed to help with the investigation.
The lawyer added that his client needed access to restricted areas in airports for his work, and having a criminal record would make it difficult.
Mr Barker, who has two young children with his homemaker wife, had apologised to the driver and given him $1,500, which is the maximum fine that could be imposed on the charge.
Judge Leong then summoned Mr Phua, who was seated in the public gallery, and asked if he had accepted the apology, to which the driver replied "yes".
The judge granted Mr Barker a conditional discharge, provided he doesn't break the law again within 12 months. Mr Barker could have been jailed up to three months for the offence. - TODAY/ar
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