Court adjourns Mawarko assault case, accused remanded in police custody

An Accra magistrate court has adjourned the case involving Jihad Chaaban who is alleged to have subjected his employee to assault by supposedly dipping her face in blended hot pepper.

The case involving the state represented by Chief Inspector Hanson Armah and Lawyer for the accused, Augustine Adjei has been adjourned to March 16, 2017 for the next hearing.

The Judge Victoria Ghansah who presided over the case said it was necessary for the security of the accused. The accused Jihad Chaaban however will be remanded in police custody till the next case hearing.

Proceedings in court:

The accused is said to have approached Evelyn (the victim) who had been asked by one Benard Opoku to assist blend some pepper in the vegetable and angrily asked “do you want to spoil my blender”, after which he called her “prostitute” in Lebanese language.

The accused Jihad Chaaban pleaded not guilty on all 3 three counts of assault, offensive conduct and causing harm.

The prosecutor Chief Inspector Hanson Armah indicated that Jihaad upon arrest admitted to committing the offences as reported by the victim Evelyn Boakye on February 28 after her situation had worsened.

Counsel’s response

Counsel for the accused, Lawyer Augustine Adjei maintained that his client did not commit the crime as alleged. He appealed for bail since the charges are bailable.

Prosecution

The Prosecutor’s appeal that the accused be remanded in police custody to avoid any further interferences in proceedings as far as investigations are concerned was objected to by counsel for the accused, Lawyer Augustine Adjei who indicated that the accused was not present in the capital when investigations were ongoing and therefore could not have interfered as was being projected.

District Commander, DSP Tetteh who was called on by the Judge to confirm if or not the accused had previously interfered in investigation processes stated that witnesses involved in the case were being intimidated knowing the accused was a free person, this he said after the investigator indicated otherwise.

Background

Many Ghanaians took to social media to express their displeasure following the alleged maltreatment of an employee at the Mawarko restaurant in Accra. 25-year-old Evelyn Boakye is said to have had her face dipped in a bowl of blended pepper by her superior Jihad Chaaban. Gender Minister Otiko Afisa Djaba joined in the crusade Tuesday March 7 when she stormed the premises of the restaurant in Abelempke and threatened to take legal action against the accused.