A 34-year-old man, identified as Ashton Jude Joseph, has been sentenced to five weeks in jail after assaulting his Grab driver following a dispute over vomit found in the vehicle. The incident occurred after Joseph, who had been drinking, booked a ride home and subsequently vomited in the car.

Joseph,a singaporean and a Captain in the Singapore Armed Forces at the time of the offense,pleaded guilty to causing hurt to the 46-year-old driver,Lee Chee Wei. His lawyer has indicated his intention to appeal the sentence.

Court documents reveal that on August 30 of the previous year, Joseph had been drinking wiht friends at a bar near Serangoon Road.Around 3am, he booked a Grab ride with Mr. Lee as the assigned driver.Mr. Lee noticed that Joseph was intoxicated.

During the ride, Joseph felt sick and vomited into a plastic bag provided by Mr. Lee. The driver offered to stop the car, but Joseph declined. Upon arriving at the destination around 3:30am, Mr. lee discovered vomit traces in his car.

An argument ensued after Mr. Lee began scolding joseph. As Mr. Lee reached into the backseat of his car, Joseph grabbed him by the neck and put him in a chokehold. The assault ended when a van arrived, and Joseph attempted to flee, but tripped and fell. Witnesses from the van and Joseph then returned to the car.

The incident was recorded by nearby PolCams. Mr. Lee, experiencing neck pain, contacted the police at approximately 3:40am, leading to Joseph’s arrest. A blood sample revealed a blood alcohol content of 124 milligrams of ethanol per 100ml of blood.

Joseph has since offered S$500 (US$392) and a written apology to Mr. Lee.

During the trial, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nicole Tay argued for a five to six-week jail sentence, stating that Joseph’s reaction was disproportionate, even if provoked. Ms. Tay also noted Joseph’s prior conviction for drink driving in 2016.

District Judge kamala Ponnampalam deemed a jail term appropriate and sentenced Joseph accordingly.The charge of voluntarily causing hurt carries a potential sentence of up to three years in jail, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.

The Aftermath of the Attack

The victim, Mr. Lee,suffered neck pain consequently of the chokehold and was understandably shaken by the incident. The prompt response of the witnesses and the presence of PolCams were crucial in ensuring Joseph’s arrest and holding him accountable for his actions.

Joseph’s reaction, even though not entirely unprovoked, was disproportionate.

Understanding Public Intoxication and Assault