SINGAPORE: When told that her taxi fare was S$24 (US$19), a woman said she had no cash and refused payment options suggested by the cabby.
After the woman challenged him to take her to a police station, the elderly taxi driver did so – and she then slapped him.
Shalini Devarajan, a 36-year-old Singaporean, was sentenced to two weeks’ jail on Thursday (Feb 19) for one count of voluntarily causing hurt.
The court heard that the victim, a 73-year-old man at the time, was driving a taxi that was flagged down by another man at about 3pm on Nov 11, 2025.
Shalini boarded the cab alone and the victim was instructed to take her to Block 260, Yishun Street 22.
The victim noticed that Shalini reeked of alcohol. He drove the sleeping woman to her destination.
When they got to the block’s shelter, the cabby woke Shalini up and told her that the fare was S$24.
Shalini said she had neither cash nor any means of cashless payment. She proceeded to call someone before saying that she needed to go up to her unit to get the money.
The cabby asked her to leave her phone behind before going up, but Shalini refused.
