On June 26, 2025, Ashton Jude Joseph, a 34-year-old Singaporean and then-Captain in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), was sentenced to five weeks’ imprisonment for physically assaulting a Grab driver following a dispute over vomit found in the vehicle. Joseph pleaded guilty to one charge of voluntarily causing hurt to 46-year-old driver Lee Chee Wei. His legal representative stated in court that he intends to file an appeal against the sentence.
The incident occurred in the early hours of August 31, 2024, following a night of drinking. Court documents revealed that Joseph had consumed six to seven pints of beer while at a bar near Serangoon Road with friends starting around 7pm on August 30. At approximately 3am, a ride was booked through Grab to take Joseph home, and Mr Lee was the assigned driver. During the journey, Mr Lee observed that Joseph was clearly intoxicated.
While en route, Joseph requested a plastic bag to vomit into, which Mr Lee provided. Although the driver offered to stop the vehicle so Joseph could finish vomiting, the latter declined. Upon arriving at the destination at about 3:30am, Joseph exited the vehicle. Mr Lee also stepped out to inspect the condition of his car and found traces of vomit on both the seats and the carpets.
Angered by the mess, Mr Lee removed the carpets and began scolding Joseph. A heated argument ensued. As Mr Lee turned to reach into the backseat of the vehicle, Joseph unexpectedly grabbed the back of his neck and placed him in a chokehold. Mr Lee called for help during the assault. The confrontation was interrupted when a van arrived at the scene, prompting Joseph to release Mr Lee and walk away.
Two witnesses who had exited the van pursued Joseph as he fled. While attempting to escape, Joseph tripped and fell, injuring his nose. He later returned to the scene with the witnesses. The entire altercation was captured on surveillance footage from two PolCams installed near the area.
Mr Lee experienced neck pain following the incident and called the police at approximately 3:40am. Officers arrived shortly after and arrested Joseph at the scene. A blood test later confirmed that Joseph had a blood alcohol content of 124 milligrams of ethanol per 100ml of blood.
In the aftermath of the incident, Joseph offered S$500 in compensation and issued a written apology to Mr Lee. Despite this, the prosecution, represented by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nicole Tay, requested a jail sentence of five to six weeks. Tay acknowledged that while Joseph’s actions were not entirely unprovoked, his response was excessive and unwarranted.
Further background checks revealed that Joseph had previously been convicted for drink driving in 2016, along with other unrelated offences. District Judge Kamala Ponnampalam determined that a custodial sentence was justified in this case, and subsequently sentenced Joseph to five weeks in jail. Under Singapore law, voluntarily causing hurt carries a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.
In response to media queries, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) commented that the SAF maintains high standards of discipline and integrity for its personnel. MINDEF added that all service members found guilty of offences will be dealt with in accordance with the law. However, as legal proceedings are still ongoing, the ministry stated it will reserve judgment until the case concludes before deciding on any further disciplinary measures for Captain Ashton Jude Joseph.
The case highlights the serious consequences of alcohol-fueled misconduct, especially among public service officers, and reinforces the legal system’s stance on upholding safety and accountability in private hire transport incidents.
Comments
Post a Comment