For blowing the lid on the Marwako saga, “my co-workers have all turned against me,” Ms Evelyn Boakye, the Ghanaian kitchen staffer at the Abelenkpe branch of Marwako Fast Foods whose face was dipped into a paste of blended pepper by her Lebanese supervisor, has told Accra100.5FM on Monday, 6 March.

Ms Boakye claims her decision not to sweep the issue under the carpet, as was done by other workers who suffered similar assault at the same restaurant in the past, incurred the wrath of her Ghanaian colleagues, who wanted her to ride on the current incident to extort money from their Lebanese boss.

“I was told by one Ali (also a worker there) that I was not the first person to have experienced this treatment at the place, and that even those handling the chicken also experienced same treatment. He suggested to me that we come together to use this incident to extort money from Chaaban but I said no, I wanted justice. Because I rejected that ploy, my co-workers have all turned against me …” she narrated to Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Monday, 6 March.

Meanwhile, Evelyn has turned down an apology from Jihad Chaaban who subjected her to the inhumane treatment.

Mr Chaaban, in a letter, apologised to Evelyn, saying: “I wish personally to sincerely apologise to you for the incident on the night of 26 February 2017 at our Abelenkpe place of work.

“True to God, all I sought to do was to point you to something I found wrong. I admit I was angry a bit at the moment and saw you panic and accidentally resulting in the pepper splashing onto your face.

“…I very sincerely regret the incident and apologise to you.”

Mr Chaaban also stated that the money he gave to the victim to pick a car to go to the hospital with on the night of the incident was not a bribe.

“Please don’t feel I have any hatred for you because you got the police to arrest me and I have to face prosecution and disciplinary proceedings at the same time. I also regret that you may have felt the transport money I gave you was intended to stop you from taking any action. I take my suspension in good faith because of what happened, which has not only hurt you but also brought such embarrassment to the company we both gave our best to give it the excellent reputation it enjoys,” he wrote.

The matter is currently being investigated by the police who arrested Mr Chaaban, interrogated him, and released him on bail.

Management of Marwako has also come out to condemn the incident and suspended Mr Chaaban over the matter until the police are done with investigations.