Brawl Between Uber Driver And Enforcement Officer Goes Viral
Pic: Youtube
A fight between an Uber driver and a Singaporean Land Transport Authority (LTA) officer which was recorded by the Uber driver's passenger and later uploaded to her Facebook page has triggered a storm of protest over the LTA officer's unprofessional conduct.
In the Facebook post last Friday, Uber passenger Amber Pek recounted the fight between the driver, Goh Kok Ling, 59 and the LTA officer.
Pic: Youtube
"So today is my first time riding with Uber and I witness a LTA officer beating up the Uber cab uncle. I’m sharing this as I felt this was an abuse of power from the LTA officer. His actions were absolutely outrageous and unacceptable. Using violence on an old uncle and kicking him even when he’s on the ground.I called for a Uber car to pick me up at bugis junction Victoria street taxi stand.
"I …did not know only taxis were allowed to turn in. However when I was waiting for my Uber car to arrive, I saw this LTA officer standing at the turning in point, scolding and chasing cars away. He was not friendly at all and was shouting at the cars in a rude manner.
"Naturally I quickly went to the entry point when my uber car came and told the officer I called for this uber cab ride and that he’s just turning in to pick me up like normal on call cabs.
"The LTA officer then proceeded to scold the Uber driver in a rude way saying he’s gonna give him a warning and why can’t he read only taxi is allowed to enter?"
The video footage filmed by the Uber passenger showed how the verbal abuse escalated to a physical brawl as the two men continued throwing punches while a third man is pictured trying to break up the fight.
Although the Uber drive is shown having fallen to the ground, the LTA officer continued to land punches and kicks on him until the third man, a passer-by intervened.
According to media reports, the LTA officer has been suspended while the Uber driver was also treated for surface cuts and a broken tooth.
The LTA has issued an official statement regarding the incident in its own Facebook posting on the same day.
Pic: Facebook
"The Land Transport Authority (LTA) regrets this incident that involved an LTA enforcement officer earlier this evening at the Bugis Junction taxi stand.
"LTA takes a serious view of this incident and will not condone any acts of violence by our officers or outsourced officers.
"The enforcement officer involved in this incident has been suspended from all duties with immediate effect pending further investigations."
- mD
