Nightclub boss bashed Owner of The Bank is hospitalised in wake of violent attack
THE owner of a nightclub has been savagely beaten in a shocking attack in Townsville’s party precinct.
Shiv Suri, 30, who owns The Bank Nightclub, was out in the early hours of Monday morning when he was approached by a man and punched once to the face.
Confronting footage of the alleged attack, which has been circulated on social media, shows the man striking Mr Suri six times as he laid motionless on the ground.
Mr Suri suffered head injuries and was taken to Townsville Hospital in a stable condition, but has since gone home.
A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman claimed the fight started after the victim made comments about the man’s family while drinking in Flinders St. She said the alleged attacker later followed the victim, before striking him in the face.
Police from Townsville station visited the man in the hospital and an investigation is ongoing.
Jake Ward has since been charged with public nuisance near a licensed premises and is expected to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on July 5. In a statement to the Bulletin, The Bank said its owner suffered “short term amnesia” after he was assaulted.
It’s understood Mr Ward is a DJ and a manager of a neighbouring nightclub. It was contacted for comment, but did not respond.
CBD Townsville Liquor Accord president and Heritage Exchange director Emmanuel Bogiatzis described the incident as “shocking”.
“All the venues down here are against violence on the street, especially when it’s against an owner of a venue,” he said. “I was quite shocked to hear about it.”
The Bank said incidents like this were the reason lockout laws were introduced.
Mr Suri, a former Sydneybased operator, took over the Bank Nightclub in 2017 and at the time told the Bulletin he would return it to its former glory as a popular dance venue.
His Facebook page describes him as an “Ex bar worker, security guard, cigarette salesman now giving it a try owning a bar”.