Group of youths resort to violence when asked to pay bill at a café

A group of youths who were dining in at City Taste, a café situated at Harbor Food Court, had refused to pay the bill when asked – and resorted to violence.

The incident took place in the early hours of this morning – around 03:15.

A journalist from Sun who was in the area reported seeing the group of youths entering the café with pavement rocks on their hand. This was followed by loud noises which promoted him to go to the scene to investigate.

The journalist said that after entering the café – the youths had thrown the pavement rocks at the staff.

 “The glasses and the plates the rocks had hit shattered; the broken pieces covered the whole floor,” he added.

It was also noted by the journalist that the youths had also thrown the tables and chairs in the café – which had resulted in some of those breaking.

“Did hear the sound of plates and glasses shattering. Some customers who were inside were screaming and crying in horror. When I reached café – the perpetrators had already fled. By the time the police came – they were not there,” he explained.

The journalist said that when he entered the café – there was a “river of blood” on the floor and a migrant staffer at the café was laying injured nearby.

“Because of the amount of blood on the face – it was hard to identify the injuries sustained. The whole face was covered with blood. People nearby the injured staffer were screaming in horror. Because of the amount of blood – it was hard to make the physical appearance of the staffer too,” he detailed.

The journalist further reported that staffer was taken to the hospital in a police car, in emergency, by the police with the help of three concerned citizens.

“When the incident had occurred – three MPL staffs had rushed to scene as well. They were the ones who helped the police transport the victim to the hospital,” he had said.

Violence resorted to in order to avoid paying the bill!

Another café staff who spoke to Sun said that the group of youths had initially been seated at Oxygen Café – which is next to City Taste. However, they had shifted to City Taste after a waiter from Oxygen had requested them to – as it was their closing hours.

“Then they ate. Afterwards they asked for the bill. I created the bill and sent it to the table. When the bill was given – they said they wanted to use the restroom,” the staffer added.

The staffer further detailed that when the group requested to go the restroom – they were told to pay the bill before they go. However, the group had refused to pay the bill – following which the staffer had called the café owner.

“Because I called by boss – they struck,” the staffer added.

Explaining that the group struck after being enraged for calling the boss – the staffer said that one of them had hit another staff with bare hands at first. Then they had apparently asked where the boss was – before violently attacking the rest of the staff and vandalizing the café.

“Glasses and plates broke. Buffet table broke. Chairs broke. Tables broke. Everything is broken,” the staffer added.

The staffer who was grievously injured and transported to the hospital for treatment is a kitchen helper at the café.

A group of regular customers at the café who were also dining in at the time of the incident told Sun that the perpetrators were also regulars at the café. They also stressed that the group is mostly intoxicated when they come to the café.

“Pretty sure they were not in sound mind tonight as well. Very sure they were intoxicated. A sound-minded person will not do such a thing,” the regulars had said.

Maldives Police Service has yet to make an official comment regarding the matter. However, after the incident – a forensics team did arrive at the scene to investigate. 

City Taste is a café that is open for business 24-hours.