An Indonesian university lecturer was caught in a controversy after he spat at a 21-year-old minimart cashier in Makassar, following a disagreement over queueing, according to a local report.
The incident reportedly took place on Dec 24 at around 11.30am at a minimart.
Dispute began over alleged queue-cutting
According to the lecturer, the situation escalated after the cashier asked him to return to the back of the queue.
He claimed he did not cut the queue, explaining that he had only moved from a long line to a cashier counter that was empty at the time.
He said the remark made him feel disrespected, especially given his age.
“I felt upset,” he said, adding that he believed his actions while shopping were misunderstood.
The man denied accusations that he had jumped the queue, insisting that no other customers were heading towards the vacant cashier counter when he moved.
Addressing the spitting incident, the lecturer said his reaction was driven by anger and frustration after feeling disrespected.
However, he claimed that the spit was not intentionally directed at the cashier’s face and believed it landed on her clothing instead.
He added that any contact with her face was unintentional.
Cashier shocked and traumatised
The cashier, a 21-year-old woman, shared a different account of what happened.
She said the spit landed on her face, leaving her shocked and distressed. She immediately ran to the toilet to wash her face following the incident.
Following the incident, the cashier lodged a police report, after her family said they could not accept what had happened.
Police have confirmed that a report has been filed and that investigations are ongoing.
Following the viral backlash, the lecturer was fired from his position by his university’s disciplinary committee, which said his behaviour violated ethical codes and professional rules.
The institution also apologised to the cashier for the incident.
