The Abelemkpe branch manager of Marwako Fast Food, Jihad Chaaban who is battling an assault case has been granted a GHC20,000 bail, Thursday.

Lawyers of the accused secured the bail for their client after a hearing at the Abeka District Court.

Mr Chaaban has been in police custody after assault charges were leveled against him by a female worker, Evelyn Boakye.

He was accused of dipping the face of Ms Boakye into a pepper sauce on February 26, 2017 after scolding her for being lethargic.

Mr Chaaban later hurled insults in Lebanese language at his victim, a colleague worker had said.

Victim, Evelyn Boakye

He was arrested following public outcry over the incident and granted a police inquiry bail. But days later, he was re-arrested pending conclusion of the investigations.

Persistent attempts by Mr Chaaban’s lead lawyer, Julio De Medeiros, to secure his client bail was met with strong opposition from the prosecution team.

The prosecutor had argued granting the accused bail would interfere with the investigations being carried out by the police.

But after Ms Boakye gave her testimony Thursday, Presiding judge Victoria Ghansah granted Mr Chaaban the bail he had long wanted.

“We are quiet excited about it. We made a very good case as to why my client should be granted the bail and the court agreed,” Mr De Medeiros told Joy News’ Joseph Ackah-Blay.

He explained all the “condition precedent for the admission of a suspect bail” was successfully entered, hence the court’s action.

But Human Rights activist, Francis Xavier Sosu, who has joined the prosecution team, said they are ready to explore all the legal means to ensure justice for their client.

“We take the view that this is a very serious violation of the victim’s dignity in Article 15 of the Constitution,” he said.

He added they are considering the “possibility of taking a civil action and a human rights action against Marwako Fast Food.”

The court has scheduled Monday for the start of the cross-examination.