Brawl caught on cam: It was self-defence, claims Datuk Seri

A businessperson, with a Datuk Seri title, accused of assaulting a restaurant owner claimed that he had acted in self-defence.

Seow Kah Foong also claimed that Lau Chan Ming had rushed towards him during Monday's incident at a condominium in Kuala Lumpur, which was captured on CCTV.

“He ran towards me... He raised his left hand. He wanted to hit me.

“So I swung my hand in self-defence. I don't know if I hit his face or hand,” the 49-year-old businessperson told Malaysiakini this evening.

Seow also claimed that Lau punched him twice and that the latter had a metal object in his hand which the businessman suspected was a brass knuckle.

At that point, Seow said his bodyguards “restrained” the 53-year-old restaurant owner.

“Finally, one of my bodyguards sent Lau to the police station. If we wanted to hurt him, why would we do something so stupid?” he asked.

Seow also showed Malaysiakini his police report on the incident, where the businessperson said he went to the condominium to look into a misunderstanding.

“When I reached there, I saw a Chinese man (Lau) who had threatened me before. I held on to his shoulder to prevent him from leaving.

“But he punched me in the left eye and I acted in self-defence,” read the report.

In another report dated May 24, Seow had accused Lau of threatening to burn his house and harm his family via a Wechat voice message.

Earlier, Malaysiakini reported Lau complaining that police have not arrested anyone despite the CCTV footage.

One footage showed several men surrounding Lau. An argument ensued before he was assaulted, with one of them punching the restauranteur repeatedly in the face.

Another footage showed a man alighting from his car and walking towards Lau. He then punched Lau in the face.

Responding to Lau's complaint, Wangsa Maju district police chief Rajab Ahad Ismail said the case involved numerous witnesses and cannot be rushed.

“We will arrest and charge him (Datuk Seri) soon. The investigation papers are almost completed,” he told Malaysiakini. - Mkini