A MAN who was apparently attacked with pepper spray, outside Golden Landmark Shopping Complex on Monday, went on the rampage at a Geylang coffee shop yesterday, said witnesses.
He had refused to be warded after the Monday attack, which left 17 others gasping for breath. He was questioned by police, then released.
But at about 7am yesterday, he reportedly created a scene before about 10 patrons and stallholders at the Victoria Food Court coffee shop.
Coffee shop manager Ng Ket Geap, 66, said the man, who had ordered fish soup and a drink, refused to pay. Mr Ng, who was at home at that time, said he received a call from his staff about what happened.
The man had grabbed a fruit knife and a slice of papaya from a fruit stall, kicked chairs onto a nearby road, then sat down to cut the fruit.
'My staff recognised him from reading the Chinese newspapers in the morning. I wondered how come he managed to come to our coffee shop so soon after the attack,' said Mr Ng.
The man's actions were caught on a closed-circuit TV camera. He was arrested about 10 minutes after the outburst and is still in police custody.
Police confirmed that this was the same man who was attacked with a substance at about 4pm on Monday at the entrance of Golden Landmark after a dispute with two other men.
The police said in a statement they believe the substance was pepper spray. The substance, which wafted into the North Bridge Road building, forced about 100 tenants and shoppers to be evacuated.
Meanwhile, a man was arrested yesterday in connection with the attack. The 40-year-old is expected to be charged in court today with violently causing hurt, the police said in a press statement yesterday.
The second suspected attacker, who is still at large, has a scar on his right cheek and was last seen wearing a white cap, 'dark top' and jeans, according to the police.
The suspected victim and 17 others were taken to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) with breathing difficulties, skin irritation and nausea.
An SGH spokesman told The Straits Times that the man refused to be admitted for observation and received treatment after suffering breathing difficulties. He was later led away by police for questioning and released.
SGH and TTSH said yesterday that all except for two patients still in TTSH have been discharged.
Mr Md Yusof Daeng Masigah, a 56-year-old driver, was one of those who felt ill on Monday. He had parked his car in the building's basement and walked outside when he became sick. 'When I walked out of the main door, my eyes started to sting. Then I coughed and vomited.'
He also felt dizzy and had chest pains.
Spray attack victim goes on the rampage 
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