Singapore Chinese cab driver abuses woman, daughter after assuming she is Indian, probe on
A Singapore Chinese cab driver is under investigation for abusing a woman and her daughter during their ride after assuming them as Indian.
Singapore: A Singapore-based Chinese cab driver is currently facing an investigation following allegations of verbal abuse towards a woman passenger and her daughter during a ride.
The incident occurred when the driver mistakenly assumed the passenger’s ethnicity, leading to a heated exchange during their ride. The commute was booked via ride-hailing platform TATA at around 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The 46-year-old passenger, Janelle Hoeden, of Eurasian origin, recalled that the driver had wrongly identified her as Indian and used derogatory language, saying, “You are Indian, you are stupid.”
According to reports, the ride initially began on a peaceful note. However, tensions escalated when the driver encountered a roadblock due to the construction of an upcoming metro line. He became agitated, alleging that Hoeden had provided incorrect address details and navigation instructions.
The confrontation between Hoeden and the driver grew increasingly heated, and the passenger decided to record the exchange on her phone.
The video, which was shared later on social media, captured the driver’s offensive comments, including accusing Hoeden’s nine-year-old daughter of being shorter than the required height of 1.35 metres.
While Hoeden insisted that her child was indeed 1.37 metres tall, the driver can be heard labelling the young girl as “very illegal.” Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) mandates that all vehicles in the country must have booster seats or child restraints for passengers under 1.35 metres in height as safety precautions.
During the record exchange, the driver was heard shouting at Hoeden, saying, “You are Indian, I am Chinese… You are the worst kind.”
Hoeden corrected him, emphasising her Singaporean Eurasian heritage and not being of Indian descent.
In response to the incident, TADA Singapore has initiated an investigation into the matter.
Ms Kalinga