Taxi driver swings at passenger over cab fare change dispute but gets punched instead

A video of scuffle between a taxi driver and his passenger over cab fare change has been going viral on social media, after an eyewitness captured the incident, that unfolded near The Mask Restaurant along Circular Road last Wednesday evening, on camera.

The eyewitness reported that the “fight took place when the driver dropped the passenger off. The driver alighted the taxi and started shouting at the passenger.”

In the video, the taxi driver swings at the passenger, who dodges the hit and punches the driver back, causing the driver to stumble backwards and fall back against his taxi. As the driver stands up, another man enters the fray and appears as though he is trying to help resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, a woman in the background can be heard shouting, “Guys, it’s not worth it. Don’t do that!” while a man can be heard calling out, “Someone call the police!” The man can be heard noting that one of the men is a taxi driver, before the woman says: “He said something like, he’s not paying me enough.”

The video has received over nearly 170,000 views on Facebook so far:

According to citizen journalism portal Stomp, the altercation arose soon after the passenger paid with a $10 note for the taxi fare that came up to over $8. When the driver returned  handed the passenger just over $1 as change, the passenger told the driver that he believed he was supposed to receive $2 back as change.

The driver responded, “You cannot see ah, only $1 plus,” sparking irritation from the passenger who felt his reply was rude. The pair alighted the cab as the argument escalated, before the punches were thrown.

The passenger reportedly sustained a cut, measuring about 1cm, under his eye due to the scuffle. Police investigations are ongoing.