A 36-year-old woman has been sentenced to two weeks’ jail after she slapped a 73-year-old taxi driver in an unprovoked attack following a dispute over an unpaid $24 fare.
According to ST, Shalini Devarajan pleaded guilty on Feb 19 to one count of assault. The court heard that the incident occurred on Nov 11, 2025, after she boarded the victim’s taxi at about 3pm while intoxicated.
According to court proceedings, Shalini smelled strongly of alcohol when she entered the vehicle and fell asleep during the journey. When the taxi arrived at her stated destination in Yishun Street 22, the driver woke her and informed her that the fare amounted to $24.
She told the driver she did not have cash or access to cashless payment options and said she needed to go up to her unit to retrieve the money.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Adelle Tai told the court that the driver attempted to safeguard his fare by asking Shalini to leave her mobile phone in the taxi while she went upstairs, but she refused. He then suggested accompanying her to the unit to collect the payment, which she also rejected.
Instead, Shalini challenged the driver to take her to a police station. He complied and drove her to the Yishun Neighbourhood Police Centre, the report added.
During the journey, she allegedly scolded the driver and took photographs of him and his vehicle.
The prosecution noted that the driver remained calm and did not respond to her remarks.
When they arrived near the police centre at around 4.20pm, both parties exited the taxi. It was then that Shalini slapped the driver once on his left cheek.
She subsequently entered the police centre, while a nearby officer attended to the elderly victim. Shalini was arrested shortly after the incident.
The driver later sought medical attention at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and was issued one day of medical leave.
In urging the court to impose a custodial sentence of about two weeks, the prosecution emphasised that the assault was entirely unprovoked.
DPP Tai highlighted that the victim had acted professionally throughout the ordeal and had not retaliated despite repeated provocations.
The prosecutor also underscored that taxi drivers represent a vulnerable group of workers who interact daily with members of the public, including intoxicated passengers.
As such, deterrent sentencing is necessary to protect them from abuse and violence.
The $24 taxi fare remains unpaid.
Image via Google for illustration
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