KUALA LUMPUR: A mentally-ill taxi driver has been arrested after almost ploughing into a military officer at the Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital (HATTM) security checkpoint.
A closed circuit television (CCTV) footage of the incident went viral on social media last week.
Wangsa Maju OCPD Supt Mohamad Roy Suhaimi Sarif said the cabbie was dropping off a passenger at the hospital when he sped past the security checkpoint at around 8.45am on Oct 12.
“The passenger from Sibu, Sarawak, had requested the taxi driver to drop him off outside the hospital.
“Much to his shock, the cabbie sped past the security checkpoint at the exit lane- almost ploughing into a military officer in the process,” he told reporters at a press conference Monday.
Supt Roy said the military officer managed to repel the taxi, but injured his wrist falling down.
“The cabbie dropped off the stunned passenger at the hospital lobby before speeding past the same checkpoint on his way out.
“He knocked into a signboard and traffic cones placed at the exit lane,” he explained.
According to Supt Roy, a group of military officers chased after the taxi and arrested the cabbie at the traffic junction some 200m away from the hospital entrance.
“They detained him and handed him over to the police. They lodged a report the same day. Investigations revealed that the cabbie was suffering from depression,” he said.
Supt Roy said the cabbie last went for a psychiatric checkup at Hospital Kuala Lumpur on Oct 5.
“He tested negative for drug use. He was not under the influence of alcohol during the incident. He does not have any previous criminal record,” he added.
Supt Roy noted that the man, who was investigated for attempted murder, had been charged in court on Oct 16.
He added that the man was sent to Hospital Bahagia in Tanjung Rambutan for a psychiatric evaluation on the same day.
“He was separated from his wife and had been living on his own,” he said.
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