Cabby drags traffic cop on road after closing window on his arm when he reaches for ignition button

A Traffic Police officer was dragged along the road by a ComfortDelGro taxi for a few metres after the cabby closed the window on the officer's arm when he reached in to turn off the ignition button, said police.

The officer was taken to the hospital and the taxi driver was arrested.

The officer was patrolling in the vicinity of Holland Road on Oct 9 at about 5.15pm when he spotted the cabby who was purportedly using his mobile phone while driving.

The officer signalled for the driver to stop, but the cabby ignored the officer and continued driving. The officer followed the cabby and eventually managed to stop the taxi along Farrer Road.

During the engagement, the 69-year-old driver was uncooperative and refused to provide his particulars. Sensing that the cabby might drive off again, the officer reached out his hand to turn off the ignition button of the vehicle.

However, the driver allegedly wound up his window and drove off before the officer could remove his arm.

As a result, the officer was dragged along the road for a few metres before the cabby stopped and wound down the window.

The 34-year-old officer was taken conscious to the hospital and received outpatient treatment.

The taxi driver was subsequently arrested for voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty, which carries an imprisonment term of up to seven years, and a fine or caning.

Any driver who holds in his or her hand a mobile communication device and operates any of its communicative or other functions while the vehicle is in motion on a road or in a public place, is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000, an imprisonment term not exceeding six months, or both.

"Our drivers have been told to always observe road safety and to cooperate with the authorities," said Ms Tammy Tan, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, ComfortDelGro Corporation.

"The behaviour of the cabby in question is completely unacceptable and is certainly not condoned by the company."

Police investigations are ongoing.