SINGAPORE — A staff member at convenience store Cheers has recently gone viral online after an argument with several police members on Sunday (Jan 1) at a Lau Pa Sat outlet.

In a series of TikTok videos posted by user "confederateginger", who goes by the name "Jonathan", the staff is seen questioning three Singapore Police Force (SPF) officers of their authority and accusing them of lying and obstructing business.

One video caption reads "SPF thug-like behaviour", while another ridicules one of the officers for "playing around with 'Section 65'".

Section 65 refers to the law where a police officer may arrest any person who is accused of committing, or who commits in the view or presence of the police officer, a non-arrestable offence — if the person refuses to give his or her name and residential address when demanded by the police officer.

Viewers who watched his videos have criticised the Cheers worker, calling him a "troublemaker employee" with an "attitude problem".

The videos show the employee to be uncooperative and refusing to hand over identification when asked by the officers, arguing with them and even accusing them of corruption.

ALLEGED DISPUTE WITH DRUNK CUSTOMER

The police said that they were alerted to a dispute at 18 Raffles Quay on Sunday at 8.05pm. 

In the first video, Jonathan tells two police officers in the convenience store: "The guy (was) drunk, he came in, caused trouble, used (the) f-word.

"He impersonated (a) police officer... He said (he) wanted to cuff me back to Cantonment (Police Cantonment Complex)... then he called (the) police."

The police then ask for his identification, inadvertently initiating a long back-and-forth argument with him. Despite multiple warnings and explanations from each of the three officers present, Jonathan steadfastly refuses to hand over his identification or to stop filming the officers with his mobile phone.

"I'm protected by my boss' camera, so I don't need to give my ID," he argues. "I (didn't) do anything wrong."

Another officer then asks if he had used the word "Bangladesh" in his dispute with the other man. The staff member confirms that he did so "because (the other man) played the race card first".

Jonathan's second video shows him asking the officers about the police report made against him, claiming that it is a "false report" and that the police should investigate the other party first.

A top comment on one of his videos read: "You call (the) police here (to) help you or you call them here (to) give them problems?"

NOT COOPERATING WITH POLICE

After Jonathan repeatedly excuses himself to attend to waiting customers, one officer flips the door's "open" sign to "closed" so as not to disrupt their investigation and inconvenience customers.

However, the agitated man quickly flips the sign back, accusing the officers of "disrupting (his boss') business". Later, he repeatedly asks them "who will be liable" for the loss of income caused by the shop closure.

Viewers of the videos were amused by this turn of events, stating: "The cashier is (the one) liable for (the) loss of income because he wasted everybody's time. By not being cooperative, he is preventing the resumption of business."

Jonathan finally hands over his identification card (IC) after "more than three warnings", one officer on site said. However, as two officers exit the store to verify his particulars, he continues to question why it is required.

"I need to speak to the person that is holding on to my IC," he tells the remaining officer.

Referring to "recent corrupt cases" in the police force and "news articles backing up (his) claim", the employee states: "I have to verify... I do not know if these guys are going according to SOP (standard operating procedures) or not."

Many comments online have praised the police officers for their patience and professionalism in handling the matter, joking that if it were up to them, they would have "arrested him already".

DISPUTE UNDER INVESTIGATION

In reply to queries from TODAY, the police said their preliminary investigations showed that comments about race and nationality, as well as verbal threats, were allegedly exchanged before their arrival. No injuries were reported.

Two men, aged 29 and 64, are assisting with ongoing investigations.

Cheers confirmed in a Facebook post on Monday that the staff member in question has been "counselled and put on administrative leave", pending the results of the investigation.

Speaking to TODAY on Tuesday, NTUC FairPrice said: "All staff are required to comply with the authorities and we will take necessary actions against staff who fail to do so.

"We apologise for the public concern this incident has caused."

NTUC FairPrice is the retailer that runs the Cheers convenience stores across Singapore.