Manama: A security guard working at a bank in eastern Saudi Arabia has been referred to the public prosecution after he was filmed pushing an elderly man onto the ground.
Eastern Province Governor Prince Saud Bin Nayef ordered the legal action to secure the Saudi senior citizen’s rights.
A spokesperson for the police in the Eastern Province said that an investigation was launched into the incident and that the two parties were referred to the competent authorities to take appropriate action.
The incident occurred in front of a bank in Dammam, the largest city in the Eastern Province and a clip filmed at the scene showed the senior citizen arguing with a guard wearing a uniform.
The guard was shown pushing the senior citizen with both hands at the chest, causing him to fall backwards from the elevated entrance area onto the concrete below.
The old man, obviously shocked by what happened to him, was seen collect some of his things from the ground and leaving the scene while the guard stood his ground.
The customer reportedly suffered bruises in the attack.
Witnesses told Saudi news site Sabq that the argument started when the Saudi man wanted to enter the bank, but the guard prevented him, saying that it was closing its doors.
Online reports said the aggression by a security guard was the second to occur at the bank and that in the first instance, an expatriate was pushed away.
The bank in a statement following the incident said that the services of the security guard had been terminated.
It explained that the guard worked for a security company that had a contract with the bank and that his behaviour was irresponsible and totally unacceptable.
Online users have expressed shock and indignation over the way an old man was treated and called for stringent action against the guard after they harshly criticised him for his aggressive attitude.
