A taxi driver assaulted by an aggressive passenger gathered 20 other drivers within 15 minutes to bring the culprit to justice. The incident happened sometime in March at around 3:30am.

The 38 year-old taxi driver, known only as Mr Liu, picked up a well-built man in his twenties outside Gallery Hotel. The man, dressed in t-shirt and jeans, wanted to go to a bar outside Pan-Pacific Hotel to continue his night of fun.

As the taxi neared Marina Bay Sands, the man suddenly accused Mr Liu of purposely going on a detour to earn a quick buck. Mr Liu tried to reason with him and even offered to deduct $1-2 from the fare. However, the man declined and wanted the taxi to stop immediately.

“After I stopped the car, he refused to pay. As we were in a standoff, I decided to drive him back to where I picked him up,” Mr Liu said.

But the man opened the car door and tried to leave. Mr Liu got out of the taxi to stop him but was allegedly punched twice in the face. The stocky man then flung Mr Liu off and left after shouting a string of profanities.

Feeling sore about the incident, Mr Liu sought help from fellow drivers through the radio in his vehicle. Within 15 minutes, more than 20 taxi drivers gathered outside Pan-Pacific Hotel to find the man.

Mr Liu spotted his alleged assailant in the crowd after a while.

This time, he managed to detain the man and call the police.

“The man tried to escape by boarding another taxi, but we were blocking his way,” Mr Liu added.

Mr Liu said freeloaders usually get away because it was difficult for a cabbie to catch them. That was why his fellow drivers sacrificed their time to help him nab one.

For being punched, Mr Liu was given three days of medical leave and will see an optometrist for an eye check-up.