In a heart-wrenching incident, a woman allegedly dashed out of a taxi without paying her fare of $18.30 on August 27, sparking an outcry from concerned witnesses.

The driver had taken her from Outram Community Hospital to Clementi Avenue 2 around 7:30 PM. According to eyewitness Zann, a friend of the driver, the woman was asked to scan a PayNow QR code before departing. However, she hurried off, insisting she had already made the payment, despite the driver not being able to verify the transaction.

The elderly driver, aged in his 50s to 60s, struggles with technology. Zann revealed, "He hasn't had much formal education and can only understand a few English terms, making him vulnerable in situations like this. Just recently, his family helped him set up the QR payment method, but he remains unsure about digital banking."

While the taxi driver contemplated letting the matter slide, Zann felt compelled to speak up. "He wanted to brush it off and forget the incident, but I felt it was incredibly unfair, not just to him but to older individuals in our communities. They often fear causing 'trouble' and don’t know where to seek help when confronted with such dishonesty."

Zann warned, "I just hope this woman isn’t targeting vulnerable seniors, hopping into taxis and pretending to pay before fleeing. There could be countless other elderly drivers suffering in silence, blaming themselves for being cautious."

In closing, Zann emphasized the need for community vigilance. "Life is tough for taxi drivers nowadays; it’s upsetting to see someone take advantage of an honest worker. I truly hope this was a misunderstanding and the lady steps forward to clear things up. To you, it might just be $18.30, but for this uncle, it's equivalent to three meals. Please, have compassion."