Lexus driver allegedly spits in drain, apologises at first before arguing it's allowed and punching wrong man
A man allegedly punched the wrong person by accident in an argument over whether spitting in the drain was allowed on Nov 19.
The person he intended to hit was Stomper Anonymous.
At the time, the Stomper was having breakfast with his daughter at Kim Kee Geylang Pork Prawn Noodle stall in a coffee shop at Lor 31 Geylang Road.
"While waiting for our food, a gentleman in his late 50s walked past us and spat – with visible coloured phlegm – directly into the drain about one metre from us," recounted the Stomper.
"Upon seeing that, I immediately told him that he should not spit as it was very unhygienic and disgusting."
The man apologised.
But that was not the end of it.
"One to two minutes later, he walked back towards us and suddenly began scolding me with vulgarities," said the Stomper.
"He claimed that in Singapore, it is allowed to spit into drains, and that the law only prohibits spitting on the ground. He then began challenging me to a fight.
"The prawn noodle stall owner stepped in to help calm the situation. The man continued insisting that spitting into the drain was allowed in Singapore. At that point, as he was becoming increasingly aggressive, I decided to call the police.
'While I was making the call, he suddenly threw a punch at me. I quickly stepped back, and the punch ended up landing on the right side of the stall owner's face instead. The stall owner was very angry but did not retaliate and walked away.
"Realising that I was calling the police, the man quickly went into his car and drove off without a sincere apology."
The Stomper shared photos the man's white Lexus CT and the drain he spat into.
In reponse to a Stomp query, the police confirmed a report was lodged.
Under the Environment Public Act, a person must not spit any substance or expel mucus from the nose upon or onto any street or any public place, except in a dustbin or other receptacle provided.
A drain is not mentioned.
Under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act, any person shall be liable on conviction to a fine up to $1,000 for spitting in any coffee shop, market, eating house, school house, theatre or public building, or in any omnibus, railway carriage or other public conveyance, or on any wharf or jetty, or in any public road, or on any five‑foot way or sidewalk of any public road, or in any other place to which the public has or may have access.
