In a shocking incident on Monday evening, a male passenger in Singapore attempted to take his own life by jumping out of a moving taxi. The incident occurred in the Yuan Ching Road area of Jurong West at around 8 p.m. The taxi driver, Mr. Chen, recounted the harrowing ordeal to Shin Min Daily.
According to Mr. Chen, the passenger, who boarded the taxi at Bukit Batok, appeared distraught and started talking on the phone soon after getting in. The passenger was sobbing and expressed deep regret towards his wife, asking the person on the other end of the call to take care of his family. Disturbingly, he mentioned that he intended to find “Ah Long” (a term commonly used for loan sharks in Singapore) and believed he would be killed by them. He abruptly ended the call after making these alarming statements.
Upon hearing the passenger’s conversation, Mr. Chen immediately felt a sense of responsibility to intervene. The passenger then confided in him about a substantial gambling debt and expressed remorse for his extramarital affairs, further complicating his despair. Determined to help, Mr. Chen firmly refused to continue driving the passenger to his intended destination and instead offered to take him to the police station.
Spotting a nearby patrol car at a traffic light, Mr. Chen quickly waved for assistance and signaled the police officers to follow his taxi. However, despite their efforts, the distressed passenger couldn’t bear the situation any longer. Approximately three minutes later, he unexpectedly opened the car door and attempted to escape. The vigilant police officers swiftly reacted, pursuing and successfully apprehending him.
Mr. Chen, still shaken by the incident, emphasized the passenger’s sudden decision to jump out of the moving vehicle, expressing his relief that no other vehicles were passing by at the time, thus preventing a potential accident.
The police, commenting on the incident, revealed that they received the distress call from the taxi driver and promptly responded to the scene on Garden View Road around 8:25 p.m. The passenger, a 45-year-old man, was subsequently arrested under the Mental Health Act. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in the incident.
This incident serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges individuals facing gambling debts and mental health issues may encounter. It underscores the importance of providing support and resources for those struggling with such circumstances, emphasizing the need for awareness and assistance within the community.
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