Taxi driver pleads guilty to threatening passengers


(MENAFN- Asia Times)

A 55-year-old taxi driver pleaded guilty at Tuen Mun Magistrates' Court on Tuesday to criminal intimidation and refusing to take a passenger.

Defendant Lam Chun-leong was arrested by Police on August 30, two days after he was caught on camera holding an iron rod and threatening a couple to get out of his taxi in Yuen Long, while the woman had difficulty walking.

Must-reads from across Asia - directly to your inbox

Lam, who did not have a lawyer at the hearing, pleaded for leniency. He said he had no intention to hit the couple, Sing Tao Daily reported.

He told the judge that the male victim harassed him in 1977, adding that he was not aware the female victim had difficulty in walking.

Lam also told the judge that he was a kind and sincere person.

Ivy Chui Yee-mei, the acting principal magistrate, refuted Lam's claims, telling him the male victim had not been born in 1977.

The judge said that as an urban red-taxi driver for six years Lam should well understand that he could go anywhere in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories, and if he was accepting passengers he should take them to their destination.

The judge said the female passenger got into Lam's taxi with a rolling walker. So, it was impossible for the defendant to tell the court that he did not aware of her having difficulty walking.

The judge said Lam was a professional driver but had no sympathy and argued with little merit, Sing Pao reported.

Lam was remanded to Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre, while awaiting sentencing on December 5.

Comments

MENAFN2211201701590000ID1096127661


Asia Times

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.