Guard in 'gongfu' fight sent for counselling

Guard in 'gongfu' fight sent for counselling

The security guard who was filmed in a "gongfu" fight with a keychain peddler outside The Cathay mall has been sent for counselling by his company.

On Monday, Reachfield Security and Safety Management general manager Grace Lim shed light on last Friday's incident. The guard, she said, had tried to stop a man from selling keychains at The Cathay's Open Plaza on Handy Road.

The peddler turned aggressive and attacked the guard, who has a black belt in taekwondo, forcing him to act in self-defence.

The video of the fight has attracted thousands of views on Facebook.

Denying reports that the 38-year-old guard, known only as Mak, had been fired, Ms Lim said: "We have temporarily stopped him from performing security duties at The Cathay as a precautionary measure as we do not want the attacker to return for more trouble."

She added that the company did not condone his actions, and that the protocol was to contact the control room instead.

"We are investigating. He was doing his job, but we have to make sure he doesn't fight again," she told The Straits Times, adding that it was the first time he had been involved in such an incident in the year he has been employed.

A spokesman for The Cathay said it will review its work processes with the security provider.

The police said they were aware of the incident and encouraged anyone with information to lodge a report so that they can "look at the facts and circumstances of the case before taking appropriate actions".

The 40-second video, which was filmed and uploaded by sales assistant Dinnie Tan, shows the two men sizing each other up before launching into attacks. They stop when two other men intervene and pull them apart. Ms Tan, 20, who happened to be at the scene, recalled the fight breaking out "suddenly".

jalmsab@sph.com.sg


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