Cook allegedly sexually harassed colleague

A chef accused of sexually harassing a longtime colleague was denied bail at his arraignment on Thursday.

The incident occurred on Friday evening after 27-year-old Mohammed Abraham Manneh from Mali asked a colleague he had been with for eight years to give him a ride home.

While they were chatting in the car, he allegedly touched her breasts and made more intimate contact. After this unwelcome incident, the woman went to the Mosta Health Centre, where bruising and bleeding were found on her breasts. Her injuries were classified as minor. The woman also filed a police report.

Manneh pleaded not guilty to charges of engaging in non-consensual sexual activity with the alleged victim, inflicting minor injuries, restraining her against her will, harassment, inducing fear of violence, and outraging public morals or decency.

With the assistance of an interpreter and legal counsel, Manneh applied for bail. His lawyer argued that the accused had a fixed address, a stable place of work and a clean criminal record.

The prosecution rejected this, arguing that the accused is currently on compulsory leave and that his employment will be terminated after this period. Since the alleged victim, his colleagues and her boss still have to testify, there is a risk of tampering with evidence. In addition, the accused has no connections to Malta, which means that the risk of him fleeing is real.

Judge Nadia Helena Vella rejected the bail request.

AG Attorney Jurgen Dalli and Inspector Warren Galea were prosecuted. Attorney Keith Borg appeared for the victim.