A bus driver who allegedly punched a high-school student during a dispute was released on NT$20,000 bail on Thursday.
The 41-year-old Taoyuan Bus Co driver, surnamed Liu (劉), is facing assault charges under the Criminal Code, prosecutors said.
The incident took place on Wednesday in Taoyuan’s Bade District (八德), when students, including one surnamed Huang, (黃) got on a special “student-only bus.”
Photo: screen grab from the Internet
Liu said that one student, who had inserted coins into the coin box, only paid NT$13, although the bus fare was NT$18.
The student said he had counted the money twice and was sure he put in NT$18.
The two began to argue and the student got off the bus, saying he would seek help from school officials.
Some stops later, Huang, who allegedly wanted to stand up for his fellow student, before getting off allegedly told the driver: “You cannot even count money. That is what your life is all about.”
The bus camera recording showed that Liu followed Huang onto the street, where the two eventually fought.
Liu allegedly punched Huang repeatedly until he bled from the mouth and nose, people who witnessed the incident said and video recordings suggested.
After receiving calls regarding the incident, police arrived at the scene, where Liu and Huang accused each other of assault.
Police said that they had examined the bus camera and found that Liu after the fare dispute, before Huang’s statement, had said, “usually, I do not talk to idiots,” adding that it was evidence Liu had a bad temper.
The bus company on Thursday convened a meeting over the incident, which was attended by a drivers’ union representative, during which company executives decided to dismiss Liu.
Liu did not attend the meeting.
A company official said the deputy chairman visited Huang at the hospital when he received treatment.
The case attracted much attention due to the rare instance of a bus driver getting up from his seat to fight a high-school student on the street in public.
People had posted the video online and it has circulated widely on social media.
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