Man Left When Asked But Was Found On Another Bench
Working is rough enough as it is.
It’s especially hard when you have to deal with difficult people.
But for Security Officer Kwek Moh Chai, this was taken to a whole new level as he was punched in the face for simply doing his job.
Mr Kwek Was Making His Rounds When the Incident Occurred
A Facebook post made by the Union of Security Employees (USE) said that they were informed of a case of abuse involving a Security Officer on 11 September 2023.
According to the post, 80-year-old Mr Kwek was deployed to a public area in Bedok Central on the night of 9 September 2023.
At around 2:00 AM, he patrolled the grounds and spotted a man sleeping on a public bench – something that is not allowed.
Mr Kwek “duly informed the man who obliged and left”.
However, later Mr Kwek found the same man sleeping on yet another bench.
This time, instead of obliging, the man “got agitated and started hurling vulgarities at him”.
The man then “punched Brother Kwek on the face, causing him to fall and break his spectacles,” said the USE post.
Care for Mr Kwek After the Incident
After witnessing the incident, two restaurant workers apparently came out to help Mr Kwek.
They called for the police, and he was later brought to the hospital for treatment for his injuries.
Mr Kwek “suffered lacerations and swelling on his face.”
Members of USE also visited Mr Kwek at his home on 12 September 2023 to extend quick relief vouchers and essence of chicken while he was on medical leave.
Commenters on the Facebook post were also quick to wish Mr Kwek a speedy recovery.
One even suggested that perhaps patrolling should be conducted in pairs instead of going solo to mitigate such situations.
The USE reiterated that officers like Mr Kwek are “executing their duties as provided for under the Private Security Industry Act (PSIA).”
This was an Act “to provide for the regulation of private investigators, private investigation agencies, security officers, security agencies and security service providers, and for matters connected therewith.”
The PSIA was updated in 2022 to include stricter penalties for offenders who intentionally harass, alarm, distress, assault, or use criminal force against security officers.
If found guilty, they can be jailed for up to a year, fined up to $5,000, or both.
The USE encourages anyone with information on abuse cases of Security Officers to report it through the USE app or to email them at [email protected].
