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An incident in Trakai, during which a Philippine businessman was assaulted and harassed with racist language, has received international attention. Due to this incident, Philippine embassy has sent a note to Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Police has apprehended the suspect, a well-known member of criminal world Stanislovas Narkevičius, lrt.lt reported on 2 June.

Philippine businessman received the aggressive guest on a late Friday evening. It was almost the closing time of the cafe, but the late guest did not like that. The owner tried to explain to the guest in English that they are now closed, however the guest began to swear at the owner using racist language.

“He told me that I must go back to Korea, and that I am a blackass. He said that this city and this country are his and I will not be able to do business without his permission”, – told the beaten  businessman Lorenzo Anres Hernandez.

The businessman said he recognized the member of criminal world Stanislovas Narkevičius, who later called 7 more men. These men assaulted the businessman and his wife.

“One of the men began to hit me in the face, then the next one punched, but not as hard. I fell down and for a moment lost my consciousness,” remembered the victim.

Businessman’s wife was also beaten, and the execution ended only when witnesses began to gather.

According to the woman, just a year ago, when the cafe was being set-up, they were hinted about a tribute.

“I suspect this was their way of scaring us into paying them some sort of tribute,” said the assaulted businessman’s wife Monika Abraitytė.

The woman complained that police arrived only after thirty minutes, even though the police department is three minutes away.

However the officers claim that they reacted to the call in a timely manner, and that the crew arrived in less than 20 minutes.

Trakai Region Police have begun an investigation on charges of public disorder, however neither the police, nor the prosecutors are commenting much on the case. Suspect Stanislovas Narkevičius has been arrested and put into custody.

Translated by Darius Mikulėnas