Last December, cleaner Muhammad Ilias Syed Ibrahim fell asleep on a bus, missing his stop.

So the 23-year-old, who was reeking of alcohol, ordered the bus driver to turn around.

When the driver refused, Muhammad Ilias punched him twice in the face, fracturing his nose.

In a district court yesterday, he pleaded guilty to attacking the 32-year-old driver and was sentenced to nine months in jail and three strokes of the cane.

The maximum punishment is seven years' jail and 24 strokes or a fine.

Looking sheepish, Muhammad Ilias admitted to boarding service number 58 near the White Water condominium in Paris Ris at about 3.30pm on Dec 29 last year.

He was bound for Kaki Bukit Road but dozed off during the journey and woke up 2km past his stop.

He started screaming vulgarities at the bus driver and demanded to alight immediately.

The driver pulled up at the next stop but Muhammad Ilias began insisting that the bus head back to Kaki Bukit Road.

When told that this was not possible, he attacked the driver.

The driver, who was in contact with the SBS Transit control room, was then advised to allow the other passengers to alight.

Muhammad Ilias stayed on the bus and police officers found him 'reeking of alcohol' when he was arrested, said the prosecution.

An ambulance took the driver to Changi General Hospital and he was given three days? medical leave.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on 28 June, 2008