The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Fire Service, Prince Billy Anaglate, said the management acted smartly by quickly calling upon the GNFS to handle the situation after a leakage on one of its cylinders was detected.

[contextly_sidebar id=”NMRbJF5FGm0LNdN55N56U5Ke4rwZHyID”]Panic waves ran through La in Accra following news of a gas leakage at the La branch of the Marwako Restaurant.

Citi News gathered that one of the three gas cylinders belonging to the restaurant had been perforated and had its gas content leak.

Staff of the restaurant who were on their regular morning safety checks detected the leakage and informed management who invited the Fire Service to address the situation.

The Deputy Public Relations Officer of GNFS, Prince Billy Anaglate, told Citi News in an earlier interview that the Fire Service was informed of the situation at about 10:30 am, and a team was swiftly dispatched to the scene to address the problem.

He said one of the restaurant’s cylinders appeared to have been perforated from beneath it, hence the leakage.

He said personnel in few minutes successfully cooled the temperature of the cylinder before diffusing the gas in it.

Speaking later on Eyewitness News, he said “We need to commend Marwako for a quick response. Immediately they saw and realized it was a leakage, they called on the fire service and within minutes we were there to address the issue… Even in our individual homes, if there is any danger or a situation that needs the Fire Service to be there; a fire outbreak, building collapse and so on, you have to quickly call us. It is important that you call us in a good time so that we can quickly come in and whatever that could have been a disaster, will be prevented,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of Marketing and Communications for Marwako Restaurant, Mohammed Amin Lamptey, said that business which was suspended due to the situation will resume on Tuesday.

He also entreated companies to equip their staff with fire safety skills and knowledge, while adhering to the Fire Service’s safety regulations for companies to avoid fire outbreaks.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Chaaban was on August 2, 2017 sentenced to nine months imprisonment by the Abeka District Court, after he was found guilty on the charge of causing harm and assaulting Ms Evelyn Boakye, a worker of the Restaurant by splashing blended pepper in her eyes and calling her prostitute.

The court presided over  by Mr. Justice Ekow Baiden ruled tha,  Defence Counsel failed to convince the court by providing it with documents indicating the appeal process had begun and that the appeal could also succeed.

[contextly_sidebar id=”cam4rceHHZcMrpH7MfePdE38VtD0IHGe”]Chaaban’s lawyer had pushed that his client should be admitted to bail since he would have finished serving his sentence before the substantive appeal is heard.

The state however contended that the chances of the manager’s appeal succeeding were slim, hence bail should not be granted to the serving convict.

On August 2, this year, the Abeka District Court, sentenced Chaaban to nine months imprisonment, for dipping the face of a worker, Ms Evelyn Boakye, into blended pepper.

The Abeka District Court gave him six months imprisonment for assault, and nine months for causing harm after it had found him guilty on the two charges. However the sentences were to run concurrently.

It however discharged him on the charge of offensive conduct.

The Court, presided over by Mrs Victoria Ghansah, said the prosecution had proven beyond every reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offence.

The sentence, the court noted should serve as a deterrent to supervisors and employers who mistreat their subordinates.

The court further rejected the terms of settlement by the two parties presented by the Defence; stating the matter before the court was a criminal one and not a civil one.

Chaaban, on February 28, this year, allegedly grabbed the neck of Ms Boakye angrily and dipped her face into a full jar of blended pepper.

He reportedly accused her of fidgeting with the blender and working slowly. Ms Boakye was an employee at the Abelemkpe Branch of Marwako Restaurant.

Chaaban was charged with offensive conduct for calling the victim a prostitute and intentionally and unlawfully causing harm and assault.

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Source: GNA

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The company, in a statement signed by Director of Public Relations, Alhaji Mohammed Amin Lamptey said though it was hoping the altercation between the two employees would have been settled out of court, it “respects the judgement and will continue to support both Mr. Chabaan, if he decides to appeal, as well as Madam Evelyn in her process.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”TZFQJw7ijcFmqRLq5h3bfRqOFY5tx6Ky”]As parts of efforts to strengthen amongst staff, the company has began what it calls interdepartmental communication and employer-employee relationship as well as seminars on internal relations.

Jihad Chaaban, was reported in February to have shoved the victim, Evelyn Boakye, into some pepper.

According to the prosecution, he accused her of fidgeting with the blender and working slowly.

Chaaban was charged and convicted for offensive conduct for calling the victim a prostitute and intentionally and unlawfully causing harm and assault.

Jihad to appeal sentencing

Meanwhile Jihad has instructed his lawyers to file for an appeal against his nine-month sentence at the Abeka District Court.

A lawyer for Chaaban, Julio De Medeiros, said his side disagreed with the judgment and was going to immediately start working on the appeal process.

The Judge, Victoria Eggs Ghansah, in her judgment, said the prosecution had been able to prove beyond every reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offense.

But Julio De Medeiros said “we entirely disagree with the findings of the court. We thought that we put up a very good defense. She [the judge] thought otherwise.”

“The real investigator of the case said from the evidence before her it was an accident. We have said it was an accident, she thought otherwise. We have taken instructions from our client to appeal immediately. We are going back to the chambers to start working on the appeal process,” the lawyer said.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post We’re saddened by Jihad Chabaan’s jail sentence – Marwako appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This is despite the judge explaining that she rejected the settlement by the two parties because the matter before the court was criminal and not a civil one.

[contextly_sidebar id=”xDse339jDV1DO9R8WxsQTgKI06vuFRLx”]The lawyer, Julio De Medeiros, maintained that the dispute had been settled out of court with the victim, Evelyn Boakye.

“The judge, in considering our plea for litigation, should have looked at the settlement… The judge should have at least considered the settlement. She said it was off the table. I didn’t understand what she meant by that but she has spoken. I have nothing to say about that.”

The judge, Victoria Eggs Ghansah, after considering the settlement, sentenced Chaaban to nine months on charges of offensive conduct for calling the victim a prostitute and intentionally and unlawfully causing harm and assault.

She said the prosecution had been able to prove beyond every reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offense.

Chaaban, was reported in February to have shoved the victim, Evelyn Boakye, into some pepper, generating public outcry.

He has since instructed his lawyers to file an appeal against the sentence as he disagrees with the sentence.

Julio De Medeiros said to the media after proceedings in court, “we entirely disagree with the findings of the court. We thought that we put up a very good defense. She [the judge] thought otherwise.”

“The real investigator of the case said from the evidence before her it was an accident. We have said it was an accident, she thought otherwise. We have taken instructions from our client to appeal immediately. We are going back to the chambers to start working on the appeal process,” the lawyer said.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Judge should have considered our settlement – Chaaban’s lawyers appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Judge, Victoria Eggs Ghansah in her judgment said the prosecution had proven beyond every reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offence.

She further condemned the act cautioning employers to be careful on how they treat their employees.

The court further rejected the terms of settlement by the two parties presented by the defense stating the matter before was criminal and not a civil one.

In February 2017, Citi News reported that Jihad Chaaban had assaulted Evelyn Boakye by grabbing neck and forced her face into a jar of blended pepper. According to the prosecution he accused her of fidgeting with the blender.

Ms Boakye was an employee at the Abelemkpe Branch of Marwako Restaurant.

Chaaban was charged with offensive conduct by calling the victim a prostitute and intentionally and unlawfully causing harm and assault.

He however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Click below to watch video of the victim Evelyn Boakye narrating her ordeal to Citi News:

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By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Marwako supervisor jailed nine months for assault appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The court’s decision follows an announcement by lawyers for the accused person that the two parties had reached a settlement in the case.

According to the magistrate, the adjournment was necessary to enable her to study the terms of settlement and decide whether to go on with her judgment or not.

Jihad Chaaban, was reported in February to have allegedly grabbed the neck of Evelyn Boakye and pushed her face into a jar of blended pepper. According to the prosecution, he accused her of fidgeting with the blender.

Ms Boakye was an employee at the Abelenkpe Branch of Marwako Restaurant.

Chaaban was charged with offensive conduct by calling the victim a prostitute and intentionally and unlawfully causing harm and assault.

He however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Marwako victim agrees to out of court settlement – Lawyers appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Ending his cross- examination, Chaaban disagreed with prosecution’s assertions that it was his fault that the blended pepper splashed on Ms. Evelyn Boakye’s face.

According to Chaaban, Ms. Boakye, a female employee who is accusing him of splashing blended pepper in her face, told him that she had pain in her eyes after chopping onions in the restaurants’ kitchen.

[contextly_sidebar id=”mJ6YmRSZjeltTczTzRsS7clJ3LjRId2m”]The Supervisor also denied that it was through his “pushing and pulling” of the victim’s head to take a look into the blended that led to the splashing of the pepper on her (victim)’s face.

He however admitted that he gave money to one Ali a worker of the Restaurant to accompany the victim to the pharmacy to purchase medicine for Ms. Boakye’s eyes.

Chaaban further admitted that Ms. Boakye had never demanded money from him since she began work at the Restaurant.

According to him, he however heard that Abigail, an employee of the restaurant and the victim were planning to demand money from him (Chaaban).

The Supervisor maintained that he gave two cautioned 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 Supervisor 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. Chabaan on February 28, this year, allegedly assaulted the victim for fidgeting with the Restaurant blender and working slowly.

Due to the conduct of the victim, Chaaban is alleged to have grabbed the head of the victim and dipped her face in a blender full of blended pepper and other ingredients.

–

Source: GNA

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According to the lawyers, who were expected to open their defence in the case today [Wednesday, May 3, 2017], their client, who is a Lebanese, would better navigate legal pitfalls in the Arabic language, hence their request.

[contextly_sidebar id=”R6xkKOPhay0IJHCn5KxkxyRXgeLxk3VI”]Speaking to Citi News, one of the lawyers for the accused, Julio De Medeiros, said their client badly needs an interpreter.

“We have said that our client doesn’t speak fluent English. He cannot communicate in fluent English. This is a court of record; every word that he says will have some sort of legal meaning and if he is very comfortable speaking in Arabic, I think the justice of the matter demands that all the tools he requires to make his case be made available to him,” Julio De Medeiros stated.

Following the request, the magistrate adjourned the case to the 10th of May, to allow for the interpreter.

Jihad Chabaan is alleged to have shoved a female Ghanaian employee’s face into blended pepper on Sunday, February 26, 2017. The Management of Marwako subsequently suspended him for his actions after massive public outcry.

Ahead of the court session, Jihad Chaban’s lawyers filed an unsuccessful submission of no case leading to an order to his legal team to open their defence today [Wednesday, May 3, 2017].

Jihad Chabaan had also requested for an out of court settlement, citing section 73 of the Courts Act in his argument, to back his request.

The application was however opposed by the prosecution, which argued that one of the charges of causing harm, is a second-degree felony.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Marwako case: Accused Lebanese requests for Arabic interpreter appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the magistrate, although the application fell within the rights of the defence, the accused still maintains his innocence,  and will need to prove it.

[contextly_sidebar id=”aBHBw9YbnLkQOm5NEBtkV5LyVBB8w6oL”]She also added that, the case was one of public interest and needed to go through the full trial process.

Lawyers for Chabaan last week filed a verbal application praying the court to allow both parties settle the case out of court.

According to lawyers for Chabaan, the charges preferred against their client are misdemeanors, and that the court had the power to order the parties to attempt an out of court settlement.

He had cited section 73 of the Courts Act in his argument, to back his request.

Jihad Chabaan is alleged to have pushed the victim’s face into blended pepper on Sunday, February 26. He has since been suspended by Management of Marwako, a Lebanese food chain in Ghana.

The Police granted Mr. Chaaban a bail of GHc 20,000 with two sureties, and as part of his bail conditions, he is expected to report to the Tesano District Police Station every Tuesday and Friday.

Meanwhile, lawyers for Jihaad Chabaan have prayed the court for a recall of the victim Evelyn Boakye, who is the first prosecution witness in the case.
Arguing their case, the lawyers said they have found new evidence for which reason they would want to cross examine the witness further.

The application was opposed to by the prosecution, who said the defence was given all the opportunity to cross examine the victim when she appeared as witness.

The magistrate in her ruling dismissed the verbal application and warned the defence to cease bringing in applications she said were meant to delay the trial.

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By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Marwako case: Court rejects plea for out-of-court settlement appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, tasked the Labour Department of his Ministry to conduct a labour audit and present its findings in a week, following the assault of a Ghanaian employee by her Lebanese supervisor.

[contextly_sidebar id=”OROb7NrB5nqu90mvXJINnq2dZDFDkEup”]But a month after the directive, the committee is yet to present its report.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Pelpuo said the case was of public interest and called for the release of the report to ensure transparency and to inform Ghanaians.

“We are still demanding to know what is happening. The Ministry must be up and doing. They must ensure that the report they have asked for, they receive and they would have to share it with the public.”

Mr. Pelpuo stressed the importance of the case, given the public investment and the fact that “an individual was abused and her person was attacked, so we want to see how that is playing out. It is important that we hear the results and see what happening.”

“…We are very much worried about the long silence on the part of the ministry after it had made strong demands and public demands on the labour report about what was happening.”

The victim in the case had her face forcibly pushed into a bowl of pepper by her Lebanese supervisor on Sunday, February 26.

Management of Marwako has since suspended the branch supervisor alleged to have physically assaulted the Ghanaian employee.

The supervisor in question, one Jihad Chaaban, was arrested and arraigned, but is currently on bail.

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By: Zoe Abu Baidoo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Publish Marwako report – Pelpuo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.