Indian pours hot water into employee's ears

A Tema High Court is trying a case in which an Indian employee of the Tema Steel company poured hot water into the ears of a Ghanaian employee for sleeping on duty.

According to a medical report issued by Dr Steve Akangah, an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Mr. Michael Opoku, is currently suffering from profound deafness in the right ear as a result of the incident.

Opoku has sued the Indian, Mr. Selvan who is a supervisor of Tema Steel Company, at the High Court, presided over by Mrs. Felicity Amoah, claiming general damages for perpetual injury to his ear.

Mr. Opoku, in his statement of claim, is also asking for 1.5 million cedis being his medical and transport expenses since the date of the incident on December 18,l998. The plaintiff, who is represented by Mr. Prosper Nyahe, said he still suffers from a perpetual headache, severe pains and discharge of liquid from the injured ear.

He said, while on duty on the day of the incident, he fell asleep. The first defendant, who was on duty, poured hot water into his right ear to wake him up, causing severe damage to the ear.

In his statement of defence, Mr. Selvan and the company, represented by Mr. R. S. Agbenoto, denied the claims and said they were ready to prove their case in the course of the trial. Selvan is currently on 20 million cedis bail.