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In Taiwan, Japanese entertainer, Makiyo and her Japanese friend, Takateru Tomoyori had their passports impounded while they are being investigated for their involvement in an alleged assault case against a Taiwanese taxi driver.

The Taipei Prosecutors Office is seeking a 4 year prison term for Makiyo and 6 year for Tomoyori under aggravated assault charges during a drunken brawl:

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The incident, which happened in Taipei’s bustling Xinyi District, stemmed from an argument between a taxi driver and Makiyo. As the dispute escalated, Makiyo’s Japanese friend Tomoyori allegedly assaulted the driver. The victim suffered serious head injuries, two fractured ribs, a brain hemorrhage and a concussion as a result of the violence.

In Singapore, three expats, Australian Nathan Robert Miller, 36, Briton Robert James Springall, 25, and New Zealander Robert Stephen Dahlberg, 34, were charged in July 2011 for a drunken brawl at Suntec City in 2010, during which four Singaporeans, including a taxi driver were assaulted. Two of the victims landed in hospital for their injuries.

Two of the assailants, Dahlbery and Springall have jumped bail and fled Singapore. Our court decided it was okay for them to travel.

Dahlberg, an options broker, fled last July while Springall, also an options broker, absconded while out on bail last December.

Springall applied to the court to leave Singapore for the United Kingdom between Aug 25 and Sept 5 last year. It was granted and his bail of $6,000 was doubled.

Springall returned to Singapore in September after his trip. It is not known if he had to surrender his passport to the police when he came back.

He left Singapore in December without obtaining court permission and has been on the run since and a warrant of arrest has been issued for him.

Springall faced one charge each of using a taxi without the owner’s consent, voluntarily causing hurt and failing to keep a proper lookout while driving the vehicle, resulting in a collision with a signage pole.

As for Dahlberg, he was given permission to leave for London and Hong Kong from July 11 to 29 last year.

The New Zealander was granted bail of $25,000.

He failed to return from the trip and a warrant of arrest was issued on Sept 12 last year.

It is not known where Dahlberg is, but according to a New Zealand Herald report last December, his family said he has no plans to return to Singapore.

Dahlberg faces one charge each of causing hurt by an act which endangers life and voluntarily causing grievous hurt.

Read this interview by The Online Citizen with the assault victims to find out more about the case. 

Welcome to Singapore!