A Parking Woes Tale: When a Crane Operator Turns Scratcher
Picture this: a sunny morning at the National University of Singapore (NUS), the usual go‑to spot for a crane operator suddenly shows a full sign. Instead of turning around, our hero Pang Kok Wai decided to test fate by scratching a car that happened to be in his favourite space.
The Incident
- March 9, 2022 – Pang drives into the carpark at 8:15 am only to find the lot packed.
- He returns ten minutes later, spots a car in his precious spot, and brings out his keys.
- And with the precision of a jeweler, he scratches the right front door of the victim’s car (owned by Seng Hoo Wee) all the way to the rear door.
- Later that day, Seng returns at 5 pm and discovers a long, ugly scratch. He files an electronic police report and sends the car to a repair shop.
It’s Not the First Time
Turns out Pang had actually committed the same prank eight days earlier, leaving a nasty mark on the same spot. The court documents noted that this prior offense was fresh enough to weigh heavily on the sentencing.
Inside the Courtroom
Judge Wong Li Tein had to juggle a lot of factors. She reminded everyone that Pang, a 48‑year‑old Singaporean, had no legal representation and pleaded guilty on Monday, September 19. He claimed the whole mess was because of stress—his dad was in the hospital and work was throwing curveballs.
Despite his remorse and full restitution to Seng, the judge considered his quick double offence. The potential punishment for mischief includes up to two years in jail, a fine, or both.
The Outcome
- Damage: $428
- Fine: $2,000
- Pang settled the cost with Seng and paid the monetary penalty.
Some say the lesson is simple: never let a full carpark drive you to reckless scrapes. And for all the crane operators out there, maybe check for parking spots in advance—or at least let’s hope the audit of your favorite spot doesn’t end with a scratch and a fine!
