The Lae Yacht Club has come out to clarify the video involving Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato, which has gone viral on social media.
The video attracted widespread public lashing as it featured Gamato being involved in a commotion in the club.
However, the club has explained that the commissioner was actually trying to calm down a drunk and disorderly individual.
According to floor manager Edwick Wilson, the commotion started when the man, who had started drinking around lunch time on Friday, began looking for his missing car keys which he thought might have been picked up by one of the staff.
When he was unsuccessful, he walked up to the bar and ordered a Red Label, which he took without paying and tried to walk out when the club’s manager stopped him.
It was around this time when the video was taken; it showed how the man started becoming abusive when the commissioner stepped in.
The video was posted on social media and shared through other mediums, attracting criticism and vile comments on the commissioner.
TVWAN News’ attempts to get comments from Gamato were unsuccessful.