'Victim' and friends beat me first
Accused of cutting man's throat after skirmish outside bar, alleged assailant says...
He allegedly cut a man's throat on Tuesday morning during a fight.
But he claims the fight was sparked by what the victim did first in a Tamil-music club.
Mr Ranjan Brasmi agreed to speak to The New Paper to shed light on what happened after a night at Club Villa, on Magazine Road.
TNP had last Friday reported a slashing incident along Havelock Road which left a man and a woman with deep cuts.
Mr Ranjan, 31, a salesman, told TNP that he had allegedly injured the man and woman using an 8cm metal piece, but did so in retaliation after he was first attacked.
It all started with an argument inside Club Villa just minutes before, he said.
Mr Ranjan said that he was about to leave the club with his cousin and brother when they got into an argument with another group of male patrons.
There was some pushing before they were escorted out of the club by security staff.
"That was when a scuffle broke out, but nothing serious happened," he said.
Mr Ranjan said he then made his way to Havelock Road to try and catch a taxi when the other men went up to him and allegedly attacked him with bottles and a metal piece.
Mr Ranjan suffered a cut to the back of his head and was left bleeding. He had to have his wounds checked at the Singapore General Hospital.
Some of Club Villa's security staff, who were nearby, saw the skirmish and chased Mr Ranjan's alleged assailants. Mr Ranjan said he also ran after them.
Just as they were outside the Ministry of Manpower building, which is about 500m from Club Villa, one of his alleged attackers tripped.
Another struggle took place and when his alleged attacker dropped the metal piece, Mr Ranjan said he picked it up and swung it at the man.
It left a 4cm deep wound on the man's neck. Just as he swung the metal piece a second time, the man's female friend came in between the men and blocked the blow. She suffered an open wound on her left arm.
Said Mr Ranjan: "I never meant to hurt her. I was just trying to settle the fight with the guy."
This version of events was confirmed by Club Villa's owner, Ms Daisy Morgan. She has submitted close-circuit TV footage of the incident to the police.
FORMER EMPLOYEE
Speaking to TNP, Ms Morgan said the woman involved is an ex-employee at one of her clubs, but did not enter Club Villa that night.
TNP contacted the woman, who said she did not see Mr Ranjan being assaulted by her friends.
Meanwhile, Ms Morgan said she has contacted all parties involved and added that her club's reputation has been affected even though the fight did not occur in or near her club.
Police confirmed the incident and are investigating. No arrests have been made. Mr Ranjan said he is ready to accept any punishment for what he did.
"All I can say is that I wouldn't have done it if I wasn't provoked. I'm not a madman. Now that it's happened, I'm prepared take full responsibility for what I've done," he said.
All I can say is that I wouldn't have done it if I wasn't provoked. I'm not a mad man.
- Mr Ranjan Brasmi who was allegedly involved in a slashing incident on Tuesday morning
Keep an eye out for drunks
Quarrels and scuffles are common in every club, said Ms Daisy Morgan (above).
She has 15 security staff on the lookout for problematic customers at all times.
"We write down every patron's name and NRIC. That way, we remember their names and faces when they enter," she said.
Patrons who go in a group must take a group photo before they are allowed into the club.
"This way, if something happens, we have pictures of the group and who they came with," Ms Morgan said.
She would approach drunk patrons with a canister of lime juice so they can drink and sober up.
If they continue drinking and cause trouble, they will be asked to leave.
From Oct 1 last year, tenants at Clarke Quay, just across the river from Club Villa, cannot sell alcohol after 3am on Sunday and weekdays, and after 4am on Saturdays and the eve of public holidays.
This was put in place after reports of drunken behaviour in the area.
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