(Trinidad Express) It starts innocuously enough.
A security guard assists an elderly man with his transaction at an ATM. Then…whack! He kicks the man in his back. He then grabs him and shoves him to the door, hurling obscenities as the old man confusedly tries to regain his balance as he is pushed and slapped towards the exit.
Is it a new Hollywood blockbuster with Bruce Willis now about to break the glass doors and rescue a repressed citizen from the hands of a violent aggressor?
No. It is actually the disturbing video of an elderly man right here in Trinidad—Chaguanas to be exact—being bullied and beaten by three big, burly men who are, ironically, supposed to be security guards at a central mall.
The video, which is posted on YouTube under the heading “Trini Security Boots Up”, was aired Wednesday night during the TV6 News.
It takes place at a Republic Bank ATM vestibule and the overwhelming sense of persecution and harassment evident in the nearly six-minute video is appalling.
“Republic Bank is shocked by the violent actions of these individuals and condemns it in the strongest possible way,” the bank said in a statement.
“We are horrified by what happened,” said Republic’s communications director Anna Maria Garcia-Brooks.
The bank said it has since been working with the police to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice and has collaborated with Crime Stoppers, which will be offering a reward to anyone who has information on the incident leading to prosecution of the offenders.
Republic said those involved in the attack were security personnel of the shopping mall at which the ATM was located, and not security guards hired by Republic Bank, or either of the two security companies that provide security service to the bank.
Members of the public who might have information regarding the incident, or the identities of the victim or attackers, are encouraged to take that information to the police immediately, the bank said.
The amateur video appears to have been shot by one of the guards, as his colleague hits and kicks the old man to the ground, squealing in pain.
The guards continue to physically abuse the man, repeatedly kicking him as he futilely attempts to explain himself. They taunt him and accuse him of finding someone else’s bank card and national identification card and hurl profanities at him.
He is kicked to the ground. He struggles to sit upright, pleading with the guards who continue to kick him and accuse him of stealing the bank card.
“Geh up boi!” they shout at him. “Geh outta here!”
The elderly man scoots over with his back to the exit, and then on his hindquarters, shuffles out of the vestibule as the profanities and blows follow.
The guards follow him outside, and proceed to kick him again.
“Geh outta here!” they scream, even as one heavy-booted shoe kicks him and then stomps on his head, holding him immobile.
Finally, they hoist him up and push him away. As he walks off they pelt his slippers after him.
