Singapore police investigate assault on elderly man who patted girl's head
A man believed to be the father of the young girl allegedly threw the 73-year-old to the ground after the pat.
Singaporean authorities are looking into an assault on an elderly man who patted a young girl's head at a food court, a common dining spot in the country.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, involved a 73-year-old man who was allegedly thrown to the ground by a 40-year-old man, believed to be the girl's father. The younger man reportedly became agitated after the elderly man's gesture.
Security camera footage of the event quickly circulated online over the weekend, leading to widespread outrage over the younger man's behavior. On Sunday night, police confirmed they had identified the 40-year-old involved and urged the public "not to speculate on the incident or its circumstances," allowing them to "conduct investigations and establish the facts of the case."
The video shows the elderly man gently patting the child's head as he walked past her table at a food court within a shopping center. A woman at the table, thought to be the girl's mother, immediately intervened. Subsequently, a man returning to the table, believed to be the father, confronted the elderly man. Following what appeared to be a heated exchange, the younger man was seen grabbing the elderly man's arm and forcefully throwing him to the ground.
The viral clip ignited significant condemnation in Singapore. While some acknowledged that the elderly man should not have touched the child without parental consent, the majority viewed the physical assault as an excessive reaction to a simple pat on the head.
The footage was shared on the social media pages of Bei-Ing Wanton Noodle, a stall at the food court. The accompanying post, written by someone identifying himself as the elderly man's son, sought assistance in identifying the alleged assailant.
The post stated that the elderly man, "in his 70s and has previous leg and hip injuries," initially "did not want to pursue the matter further." It added, "Afterwards, the man sat down with my father, apologised and offered him a drink."
However, the son emphasized, "While we appreciate that he eventually apologised, my father is now suffering from severe back pain following the incident. A drink and an apology cannot simply take away the physical pain or injuries he is experiencing." In a subsequent post, the elderly man's son expressed gratitude to the police for their swift response, stating they "sincerely hope that justice will be served for my father."