Man jailed for throwing bottle into SMRT bus, injuring passenger on upper deck

SINGAPORE: A 38-year-old man was sentenced to seven months and two weeks’ imprisonment after throwing a glass bottle into a double-decker SMRT bus, shattering a window and injuring a female passenger seated on the upper deck.

Quztaza Kamarudin was sentenced on 24 December 2025. He was also ordered to pay compensation amounting to S$3,038.58, covering medical expenses and repair costs. If he fails to pay, he will serve an additional 20 days’ jail.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to one count each of committing a rash act, mischief and theft.

Five other similar charges were taken into consideration during sentencing, according to court proceedings.

The incident occurred at about 5.30pm on 5 July 2025. Quztaza and several friends had boarded an SMRT double-decker bus operating on service 190 from Bukit Panjang.

While seated on the upper deck, Quztaza consumed alcohol from a bottle of soju. About an hour later, he and his friends prepared to alight at a bus stop near The Heeren along Orchard Road.

At the top of the staircase leading to the lower deck, Quztaza and one of his friends found their way blocked by a couple, later identified as Mr Lim Phang Kai and his wife. An argument broke out, with vulgarities exchanged between Quztaza and Mr Lim.

After alighting from the bus, Quztaza remained in the vicinity. Mr Lim and his wife then took seats on the upper deck, with the woman seated nearer to the window.

Shortly after moving off, the bus stopped at a red traffic light. Quztaza and his friend walked past the bus along the pavement. At that point, Quztaza noticed Mr Lim making an obscene gesture in his direction.

Angered by the gesture, Quztaza hurled the glass bottle of soju towards the upper deck window where Mr Lim was seated. The bottle smashed through the thick glass panel and struck Mr Lim’s wife on her left cheek.

The impact caused lacerations to her face. Quztaza fled the scene on foot, but his actions were captured on closed-circuit television cameras installed on the bus and in the vicinity of The Heeren.

The injured woman was conveyed to hospital, where doctors treated her for facial lacerations that required stitches. She was given five days of medical leave following the incident.

Repairs to the damaged bus window cost approximately S$2,708.40. As of the date Quztaza entered his guilty plea, no restitution had been made, according to court records.

Quztaza was arrested on 8 July 2025, produced in court the following day and released on bail. However, his bail was later revoked following a separate offence.

In the early hours of 26 June 2025, Quztaza stole a bottle of Chivas Regal whisky worth S$78 from a 7-Eleven store along Circular Road in Boat Quay. He committed the theft after legal alcohol sale hours, intending to drink.

He concealed the bottle in his pocket and left the store without paying. The store manager later discovered the missing item and reviewed closed-circuit television footage, identifying Quztaza as a suspect.

With assistance from a nearby bar manager, Quztaza was subsequently located in possession of the unopened bottle, which had a damaged seal. Police were alerted, the bottle was returned to the store and Quztaza was arrested.

During sentencing submissions, the prosecution sought between seven and eight months’ imprisonment, highlighting the high degree of rashness involved in the bus incident.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Intan Suhaily Abu Bakar said the bottle was thrown with such force that it shattered the bus window before striking the victim. According to the prosecution, the act posed serious risks to both passengers and members of the public.

About half of the upper deck was occupied at the time, with most passengers seated near the front where the bottle was thrown. The bus service was halted after the incident, and passengers had to find alternative transport.

For committing a rash act, Quztaza could have been jailed for up to one year, fined up to S$5,000, or both. Theft carries a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment and a fine, while mischief is punishable by up to two years’ jail, a fine, or both.