A MOTORIST who damaged a fellow driver's side window visor over a road incident was jailed for a day and fined $2,000 for mischief yesterday.
Tan Hung Yung, 49, a tennis coach, pleaded guilty to hitting the side window visor of Mr Haresh Bhagchand Chandiramani's car in Scotts Road on Feb 7 this year.
He has since compensated the 47-year-old sales manager for the damage caused.
A magistrate's court heard that Mr Chandiramani was driving along Scotts Road that evening when he heard a car sounding its horn after he had signalled his intention to turn right into Orchard Boulevard.
Subsequently, Mr Chandiramani saw Tan walking towards his car and asking him to get out. He ignored Tan.
Tan then used his hand to hit the driver's side window visor, causing damage amounting to $57.
Pleading for a non-custodial sentence, defence lawyer Thangavelu said the Singapore Tennis Association coach almost collided into the victim's car when the latter cut into his path.
When Tan sounded his horn at the driver, Mr Chandiramani showed Tan the middle finger.
Tan was ignored when he wanted the driver to explain his dangerous driving and rude finger gesture.
"There was no pre-meditated intention to bully or start a quarrel or a fight," he said.
He told the court that what his client did was totally out of character as he was not a man predisposed to violent outbursts of bad temper.
Tan was remorseful for losing his self-control and has undertaken to remain calm and not step out of the car under all similar circumstances in the future, he added.