Following a preliminary investigation by the police, the traffic cop who was filmed beating up a Jordanian driver has been identified and will be held in closed custody for 14 days, according to the Public Security Directorate (PSD).

A security source told Roya that the driver initiated the argument between him and the policeman, after mouthing profanities at the latter, whom they said was merely trying to do his job.

Following a court order, the driver has been held in police custody for one week on the charges of slander and contempt.

Social media users had mixed reactions towards the video, which went viral on Tuesday.

Ahmad Abbadi wrote on Facebook that “Regardless of the case, no traffic officer is allowed to use violence. Even if something has happened, he should've called it in and followed as he was trained to do.”

Thinking on the same wavelength as Abbadi, Basem Muhamed said: “The problem happens when the police officer misunderstand the authority that he has.”

Others disagreed: Moaweya Qu said that “The driver is probably a Careem or Uber and the Police has the complete right to be violent in case the driver doesn’t cooperate with them.”

Alaa Faqeeh pointed out that “Beating is wrong, but how many of you would remain silent if insulted by a random person as the police officer claims? Shouldn't drivers show respect to someone standing all day long under blazing heat doing their job?.”

Cel Shawabkeh concurred.

“I don't think he got beaten for no reason. He could have ask for it. Your teacher won't scold you if you're an obedient and respectful child... Same goes with this story,” she said.

However, Akram Shehadeh was completely against Shawabkeh’s opinion: “You must be kidding,” he wrote.