A screengrab from the viral video of the man trying to remove the wheel clamp.
GEORGE TOWN: The Datuk Seri businessman, who allegedly assaulted a security guard at a luxury condominium in Jelutong here, was arrested when he turned up at the district police headquarters in Patani Road to give a statement over the incident.
George Town OCPD Asst Comm Mior Faridalathrash Wahid confirmed that the businessman, 50, with a Datuk Seri title, was arrested at about 11am yesterday.
“We will decide later if we need to remand him for further investigations,” he said.
At press time, he was still being held at the district police headquarters.
A security guard at the condominium block, who declined to be named, said the businessman was a good man and he had no issues with any of them.
“I met him on Sunday, a day after the incident, and he told me that he was angry after he found his Mercedes-Benz clamped at the visitors’ carpark.
“My colleague had to clamp his car after he refused to remove it from the visitors’ carpark despite several reminders.
“The incident could have been avoided if he just paid the RM100 to have his car unclamped,” she said.
Two policemen were spotted arriving at the condominium at 11.10am. They were there until 12.45pm, and apparently met with the security guard, 43, who was assaulted.
However, reporters were not allowed to enter the condominium premises.
A check showed that the businessman was a director with the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC).
PCCC president Datuk Seri Choot Ewe Seng confirmed that the businessman is a PCCC director and what happened was a personal matter, and had nothing to with the committee.
According to PCCC’s website, the suspect was on the general working committee.
The Star went to the businessman’s office in Gelugor but he was not in.
An employee confirmed that the Datuk Seri’s company dealt in health and beauty products.
When asked if he could be interviewed, the employee said the Datuk Seri was seldom in the office.
A 39-second viral video clip on social media showed the Datuk Seri trying to remove a clamp from the right front tyre of his Mercedes-Benz with a steel cutter before he allegedly assaulted the security guard who was recording him using his smartphone.
The victim later received treatment at the Penang Hospital for injuries on his left hand and forehead.
The video was uploaded on Facebook, attracting more than 25,000 shares and 8,000 likes when it was shared by Seberang Prai municipal councillor David Marshel.
It drew an outcry from netizens, with many wondering how he had ready access to the large steel cutter. Some wondered if he kept the cutter in his car.
Many others ranted angrily over his conduct and felt he should be stripped of his Datuk Seri title.
