Convenience store clerk beaten up by customer who refused to comply with epidemic control measures

A convenience store clerk in New Taipei City was sent to hospital after being beaten up by a man who refused to comply with the requirement to wear a mask and register his name and phone number when visiting the store, today, May 17.

At around 7:00 am this morning a 50-year-old man, named Lai, entered a High Life convenience store in Tucheng District, without wearing a surgical mask. A 22-year-old clerk named Zhuo requested he put on a mask and comply with the name-registration system.

Video of the incident shows Lai complying with the clerk’s request to put on a mask. However, when the clerk insisted Lai leave his name and phone number as required for possible contact tracing measures, Lai refused, and finally lost his temper and attacked the young man, hitting him with a motorcycle helmet before punching and kicking him.

Lai left the store, and another clerk who had witnessed the whole incident without moving from behind the counter, called the police.

Zhuo was taken to hospital to be treated for a laceration to his head.

When police caught up with Mr Lai, Lai put the blame on Zhuo, saying that the young clerk had a bad attitude, and had started the fight. However, the video evidence showed a very one-sided fight, and police sent Lai to the District Prosecutor’s Office to be charged for assault causing injury. Lai will also face an NT$15,000 fine for breaching provisions of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.

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