A strong wave of criticism arose online in Singapore after CCTV footage showed a 40-year-old man pushing a 73-year-old man to the ground in a food centre, triggered by the older man's gesture of affection in patting the younger man's daughter's head. Singapore police have since identified the suspect and are investigating the facts, urging the public not to speculate or disseminate assumptions about the incident and its cause.
Singapore police launched an investigation into the assault of an elderly man following an incident at a food centre inside a shopping mall on East Coast Road at approximately 16:40 on Saturday, 15 Aug. Police confirmed on 16 Aug that they have received reports and identified the 40-year-old man involved.
CCTV footage shows a 73-year-old man, identified as Mr. Yeow Song Khun, walking past a table where a young girl was seated before reaching out to pat her head. A woman, believed to be the child's mother, immediately intervened. Subsequently, another man, believed to be the child's father, returned to the table and confronted the elderly man. After an exchange of words, the 40-year-old man allegedly grabbed the elder's arm and pushed him to the ground amid bystanders.
The incident was shared by Bei-Ing Wanton Noodle, a stall located within the food centre. A person claiming to be the elderly man's son posted a message seeking help to identify the man involved, noting that his father has difficulty walking and previously suffered leg and hip injuries.
The family stated that after the incident, the other man returned to talk with the elderly man, apologized, and offered him a drink. However, the 73-year-old later began experiencing severe back pain. He told Singapore media that the pain started about 2 to 3 hours after being pushed and that he is currently taking painkillers.
Mr. Yeow said he patted the child's head because he thought she was "very cute" and considered it a common gesture elderly people make toward children. He emphasized that he did not want the matter to escalate or cause problems for anyone, adding about the child's father, "Let him go. I don't want to cause trouble."
Singapore police urged the public not to speculate or spread assumptions about the incident and its cause and requested that they allow the police to conduct their investigation to gather facts. The assault investigation is ongoing.
The clip went viral and sparked intense criticism across Singapore. Although some social media users felt the elderly man should not have touched the child without parental consent, most agreed that responding with physical violence by pushing the elderly man to the ground was an excessive reaction.
. . .CNA/The Straits Times