Two men charged with attacking bus captain who told them to wear their masks properly

SINGAPORE: Two men were charged on Wednesday (Nov 3) with attacking a bus captain after being told to wear their masks properly.

Ahmad Robinson, 70, and Aziz Khan Sher Khan, 61, are accused of voluntarily causing grievous hurt with common intention under the Penal Code.

At about 10.50am on Tuesday, the police were alerted to a case in which a bus captain was allegedly assaulted by two men on board a bus along Loyang Avenue.

"Preliminary investigations revealed that the two men allegedly assaulted the bus captain as they were angry with him for telling them to don their masks properly," said the Singapore Police Force (SPF).

Officers from Bedok Police Division arrested them on the same day.

"The police are also investigating the two men for non-compliance with safe distancing measures," said SPF.

In response to queries from CNA, a spokesperson for bus operator Go-Ahead Singapore said that the bus captain did not sustain serious injuries and was taken to hospital by ambulance after the incident.

The incident happened on bus service 2, after the bus captain asked the two passengers to wear their masks properly, said the spokesperson. His wallet was allegedly stolen by the two men, the spokesperson added.

"Our bus captains are dedicated in carrying out their duties so that commuters can enjoy safe and reliable journeys, it is inexcusable that they are subject to such abhorrent behaviour in the course of their work," said the Go-Ahead Singapore spokesperson, adding that the company is providing assistance to the bus captain.

If convicted of voluntarily causing grievous hurt with common intention, the two men may be jailed up to 10 years, as well as fined or caned.

Breaching COVID-19 regulations carries a fine of up to S$10,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both.