Story By: Sibel Abdiu, Sub Editor: Alex Cope, Agency: Asia Wire Report

Video Credit: AsiaWire

This is the moment a gang smashes up a phone shop and pummels the owner with sticks in a row over a four-GBP repair bill.

The incident was filmed by CCTV cameras in the district of Esenyurt in the north-western Turkish province of Istanbul following a row between the shop owner Mehmet Bozkurt and one of the unnamed suspects.

Bozkurt explained to local media: “I opened the customer’s phone and it was full of dirt. I told him that I could fix it and mentioned that the moisture inside may cause other problems.

“I fixed the problem and returned the phone to him, but he came back the next day and told me that the phone kept shutting down during calls. However, he never told me that the sensor was broken too.

“When I said that I could repair the new fault for 30 TRY (4.2 GBP) instead of the normal cost of 50 TRY (7 GBP) as it was a return visit, he became angry and refused to pay.

“He told me ‘do it for free or I will wreck your shop’ and left. I immediately filed a report with the police over his threatening behaviour, and he came back several days later when I was not there.

“He threw the phone at my colleague and complained about the police report.

“He then returned with some friends and they attacked me with sticks and knives. I have 14 stitches on my head from the attack.

“I cannot move my arm either, and they caused significant material damage to my shop.”

According to local media, Bozkurt received hospital treatment before filing another report with the cops.

The Esenyurt Municipality Police Department has confirmed that they are investigating the incident and are trying to identify the suspects in the video.

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