Jihad Chaaban
Jihad Chaaban, the Marwako Fast Food Abelemkpe branch manager in Accra, has informed the Abekah District Court that he would be calling two witnesses to testify for him in a case before the court.
Ending his cross-examination, Chaaban disagreed with the prosecution’s assertions that it was his fault that the blended pepper splashed on Evelyn Boakye’s face.
According to Chaaban, Ms. Boakye, a female employee who has accused him of dipping her face into blended pepper, told him that she had pain in her eyes after chopping onions in the restaurants’ kitchen.
The manager also denied that it was through his “pushing and pulling” of the victim’s head to take a look into the blender that led to the splashing of the pepper on her face.
He however, admitted that he gave money to one Ali – a worker at the restaurant – to accompany the victim to the pharmacy to purchase medicine for the treatment of her (Ms. Boakye’s) eyes.
Mr Jihad Chaaban further admitted that Ms. Boakye had never demanded money from him since she began work at the restaurant.
According to him, he heard that Abigail – another employee of the restaurant – and the victim were planning to demand money from him.
The branch manager maintained that he gave two caution statements to the police without any compulsion.
The accused person explained that the police however, did not give him the chance to explain himself, adding that he was also not given an Arabic interpreter at the police station before those two statements were taken.
Hearing has been adjourned to June 15.
Chaaban, the 26-year-old branch manager, has been put before the court for allegedly dipping the face of Ms. Boakye into blended pepper at the Abelemkpe branch of Marwako Restaurant.
The accused is standing trial over offensive conduct, intentionally and unlawfully causing harm and assault. He has denied the charges and is on bail.
GNA