Cook at Owen Sound restaurant says he saw what led to owner's dine-and-dash death and wants justice

A cook at the Owen Sound, Ont., restaurant of the owner killedin a dine-and-dash assaultmore than ayear ago says he sawsome of what happened and is calling for justice, in a homicide case that police are releasing few details aboutto the public.

Adnan Hussain said he came to Canada from Bangladeshto work with Sharif Rahman, who had opened The Curry House in downtown Owen Sound in 2015.

In an exclusive interview with CBC, Hussain saidhe last spoke with police about the case in October2023, but hasn't heard anything since.

Now, "I want justice that's all," he said.

The mystery of who attackedRahman outsidethe restauranton that warm August night last year still hangs over the cityof about 21,000 people in Grey County.

There's been little information released byOntario Provincial Police (OPP) and Owen Sound police since Rahman died ina London hospital a week after the attack.

Policeannounced thisAug. 15that arrests were made in July, but have been mum onwho or how many people were taken into custodyor if charges have been laid, raising concernsfrom a local lawyer and members of the community about the secrecy surrounding the case.

In the interview, Hussain said while he was frustrated before arrests were made, he's now happy there seems to be progress.

When told this week that CBC had spoken to Hussain, OPP would only say they won't identify witnesses.CBCalso reached out to the Owen Sound Police Service, but the media officer hadn't provided a response by publication time.

What happened at the restaurant?

Rahman, 44, a husband and father of one, was attacked onAug. 17, 2023. Police said ithappened during a dispute over anunpaid dining bill.

The bill totalled about $150, said Hussain, and the customers "didn't finish the food at all."

Hussain, whowas working in the kitchen that night,vividly remembers closing time, at about 9 p.m.

He had been cleaning up in the kitchenwhenthree men came in together and ordered food. Hussainsaid he made themtandoori chicken.

Whenhe heard something odd going on at the front of the restaurant,Hussain said, he went to investigate.

"I thought something is going wrong outside.I came out from the kitchen and saw Sharif running behind them."

Rahmanwas trying to get them to go inside and pay the bill, according to Hussain.

"I was helping to stop the person," he said about one of the customers.

While Rahman tried to hold the first man, the other two returnedand that's when a struggle ensued, said Hussain.

Hussainsaid he was struggling with one of the men whenhe heard the sound of two objects hitting each other.It's then that hesaw Sharif lying on the groundanda man, described byHussain as being tall, runningaway.Hussainsaid he tried to stop him,but the man pushed himand Hussainfell down.At first,he chased him, but came back to helpSharifand call911.

Hesaid Sharif wasn't responsive. "He was completely silent."

Hussain said he himself wasleft traumatized, injured and with a $600 hospital bill.

There's a lot of secrecy that appears on the case and it's unclear as to why.- Ram Shankar, Owen Sound-area lawyer

In September, court services staff in Owen Sound told CBCthey had no information regarding the matter beyond what policehas already been made public in the media.

OPP previouslypointedto the"complexity" of the investigation when asked about why more information wasn't being released.

Police also have said they appreciatethe public'spatience as they"continue to conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation."

When contactedby CBC News on Tuesday, OPPsaid there are no more updates.

'A lot of secrecy' arounddine-and-dash case

Rahman was known as a generous and active member of his community, with the mayor saying he'dcook food to help raise money for different causes.

After it was learned he'd been beaten outside his business, there was an outpouring of grief and support. Hundreds lined Owen Sound streets for his funeral.

After the arrests were announced, amidcommunity concerns over safety,Sikander Umar, president of theMuslim Association of Owen Sound, said there was hope for justice being serviced. However, Umar said, "Everybody has been questioning and asking whether this thing is ever going to be put to rest, butbecause the police were very silent about it, nobody knew too much about it."

CBC News recently spoke to at least sixlawyers in the Owen Sound area, all of whom expressed both interest in the case and surprise that no names and charges had been made public. None knew the identities ofthe defendants or which lawyer or lawyers are representing them.

Ram Shankar said thatin his two decades of practising law, he's never seen a case where police have released so few details.

"There's a lot of secrecy that appears on the case and it's unclear as to why," said Shankar.

"Normally when charges are laid,the public would hear the name of the accused, their location, and precise charges and details. There's been nothing so far," said Shankar, who practises criminal and family law."It's pretty unusual.

"To the best of my knowledge, that's not the practise anywhere."

A couple of years ago, Shankar dined at The Curry House.Herecalledseeing Rahman and his daughter sharing a moment hearing hercall out for "dada"while hepicked her up.

"We had a quick chat, and I was just observing that and smiling at the young, sweet child," Shankarsaid.

"It's very unfortunate, all for just a little bit of money that this happened," Shankar said.

The dream of working at The Curry Houseis what brought Hussain to Canada on a two-year work permit, knowing he could have a job with Rahman, a man he'dknownall his life.

"It's frustrating that in Canada such a bad thing happened."