A local man was arrested on Thursday for attacking a security guard on August 4 as he was unable to present his digital Macau Health Code when he entered Bairro Iao Hon Municipal Market due to a network issue at that time, and damaging a tripod-mounted infrared thermometer, Public Security Police (PSP) spokesman said at a press conference on Friday.
The jobless suspect surnamed Chan is in his sixties.
According to the spokesperson, the Public Security Police (PSP) received a report in the morning of August 4 about an attack on a security guard at the market. PSP officers rushed to the market and spoke to the security guard, an official of the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), Chan and his wife. The security guard told the officers that Chan and his wife wanted to enter the market and he told the couple to present their health codes. Chan failed to show his code due to the network problem that morning and quarrelled with him. Chan lost his temper and took his wife’s shopping trolley to attack him and then grabbed the tripod stand of an infrared thermometer to attack the security guard. Chan’s wife tried to stop him but was unable to. The security guard sustained minor injuries to his left shoulder and right hand.
The spokesperson said that the IAM official at the market witnessed the incident and confirmed that Chan had damaged the tripod stand. The official estimated that the repairs would cost some 750 patacas.
After reporting the incident to his superiors, the bureau decided to take legal action against Chan, while the security guard who sustained minor injuries declined to sue Chan.
The Public Security Police (PSP) told Chan to report to a police station on Thursday for further investigation. Chan admitted to attacking the security guard in a fit of anger and regretted the incident. He also told the police was willing to face the consequences.
Chan has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing a charge of causing property damage, according to the spokesperson.
The Public Security Police (PSP) urged the public to always cooperate with the government’s COVID-19 pandemic prevention measures during this critical period in order to protect the city’s safety, and refrain from irrational and impulsive behaviour, the spokesperson said.
This undated handout photo provided by the Public Security Police (PSP) on Friday shows the suspect being escorted by PSP officers to a police station.
