Furious boss ordered brutal beating, worker tells court

A restaurant boss ordered staff to break bones and deform the face of a worker who resigned over poor pay, a court heard yesterday.

Four men are on trial in the Auckland District Court in relation to the alleged attack on Bashan Singh and Akbar Singh on June 10, 2007, in north Auckland.

It is alleged the pair were badly beaten and kidnapped from their home by their former boss and colleagues, after resigning from an Asian restaurant that afternoon.

Early this week all four accused - whose identities have been suppressed - denied charges of unlawfully detaining Akbar Singh and Bashan Singh, kidnapping using a firearm, causing Bashan Singh grievous bodily harm with intent, and assaulting Akbar Singh with intent.

Yesterday, Crown prosecutor Kirsten Lummis asked Bashan Singh for his version of events, via an interpreter. Mr Singh told the court how an employee at the restaurant - previously known to the pair in their home country - had arranged jobs for them in New Zealand.

The men worked at the restaurant but were unhappy with their pay and attempted to retrieve their passports from their employer in order to look elsewhere.

Mr Singh said his boss would not return the passports and that on Sunday, June 10, 2007, they handed in letters of resignation regardless. These had been drafted and witnessed by a friend of the pair.

After working until 10.30pm, they walked home, arriving about 11pm.

It is alleged that a short time later six to eight restaurant staff - including the boss - entered the house. Mr Singh said his employer came in swearing and screaming blasphemous names and telling the Singhs they were lucky to receive their wages as it was double what they earned back home.

Akbar Singh tried to escape but was quickly caught, while Bashan ran on to the balcony to phone for help.

As his boss gave chase, Bashan Singh scaled the balcony wall and was hanging over the side. His boss tried to haul him back but lost hold of his arm as Mr Singh's other hand also slipped.

He fell to the concrete below - breaking both legs - but hauled himself up to run away. Then out came the workers.

"After that they brought me on to the road and then instructions were given to hurt me so badly that my arms and legs were broken and face deformed," Mr Singh told the court.

A number of men allegedly set upon him, punching, kicking and stomping on his torso and legs. As his screams of pain got louder, he was taken inside, out of earshot of neighbours.

When Mr Singh was unable to go to the toilet because of swelling to his legs, it was decided he needed medical attention.

At Middlemore Hospital, staff were told he had fallen down some stairs. As he could not speak English, he did not speak up.