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 killed in a dine-and-dash assault more than a year ago says he saw some of what happened and is calling for justice, in a homicide case that police are releasing few details about to the public.

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

In an exclusive interview with CBC, Hussain said he last spoke with police about the case in October 2023, but hasn't heard anything since. 

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

The mystery of who attacked Rahman outside the restaurant on that warm August night last year still hangs over the city of about 21,000 people in Grey County. 

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

Police announced this Aug. 15 that arrests were made in July, but have been mum on who or how many people were taken into custody or if charges have been laid, raising concerns from 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. CBC also 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 on Aug. 17, 2023. Police said it happened during a dispute over an unpaid dining bill. 

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

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

He had been cleaning up in the kitchen when three men came in together and ordered food. Hussain said he made them tandoori chicken.

When he 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." 

Rahman was 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 returned — and that's when a struggle ensued, said Hussain.

Hussain said he was struggling with one of the men when he heard the sound of two objects hitting each other. It's then that he saw Sharif lying on the ground and a man, described by Hussain as being tall, running away. Hussain said he tried to stop him, but the man pushed him and Hussain fell down. At first, he chased him, but came back to help Sharif and call 911. 

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

Hussain said he himself was left 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 CBC they had no information regarding the matter beyond what police has already been made public in the media. 

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

Police also have said they appreciate the public's patience as they "continue to conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation." 

When contacted by CBC News on Tuesday, OPP said there are no more updates. 

'A lot of secrecy' around dine-and-dash case

Rahman was known as a generous and active member of his community, with the mayor saying he'd cook 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, amid community concerns over safety, Sikander Umar, president of the Muslim 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, but because the police were very silent about it, nobody knew too much about it."

CBC News recently spoke to at least six lawyers 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 of the defendants or which lawyer or lawyers are representing them. 

Ram Shankar said that in 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. He recalled seeing Rahman and his daughter sharing a moment — hearing her call out for "dada" while he picked her up. 

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

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

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

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