A prominent businessman - who cannot be named by court order - was today acquitted of sexually assaulting a chambermaid at the Golden Sands Hotel after a court found that her version of events was not credible.

The alleged case took place on June 8, 2006 in the evening.

Then Police Inspector Paul Bond had told the court that a man who was employed in the hotel had reported that while the chambermaid was working in the room of the accused, the accused groped her and then raped her. However the charge was one of sexual assault because that was what had resulted to the police.

The alleged victim had reported the case to her employer. She had initially not wanted to take police action but later changed her mind.

The inspector also presented CCTV footage showing the time when the chambermaid was in the room of the accused. The footage was presented on the insistence of the accused to prove his innocence.

The chambermaid in her evidence said she worked part-time at the hotel. At the time of the incident she had called at the room of the accused, who let her in. As she was arranging the bed-spread, the man started asking her questions about the room, and then grabbed her bottom. She asked him to stop, and he started kissing her on her lips and neck.

He then threw her on the bed, pulled her arms behind her back, groped her and sexually assaulted her.

The chambermaid said a colleague knocked on the door and entered but she was scared to call out for help and hid from her.

When she eventually left the room she reported the case to her supervisor.

A medical doctor said he had examined the victim two days after the case. She had a bruise on her private parts which could have been caused by an assault, or by bumping into furniture.  

The accused said he had been married for 30 years and had two children. At the time he was at the hotel for a four-day conference accompanied by his wife, but his wife was not present at the time of the alleged incident.

He said he had been in the bathroom when suddenly he found a woman just outside the door. He asked her to wait while he got dressed, and then asked her what she was doing there.

He said that during conversation he had complained about the restaurant service.

During the screening of the footage, defence counsel noted that the chambermaid had entered his client's room twice, the first time without knocking. She came out, stopped to check something, then went in again.

The recording also showed how a second maid also entered the room for some time.

The court in its considerations said the chambermaid had a bruise and a scratch which might be compatible with the alleged incident, but the CCTV cast a shadow of doubt on her version of events. She entered the room twice, the second time for 11 minutes. But she was only alone in the room with the guest for three minutes before her colleague arrived.

While the alleged victim had claimed that she hid from her colleague, the court said it found this to be strange. It was also strange that she allegedly asked the man whether there was anyone in the hall before she left. Why should a chambermaid be scared of being seen leaving a room?

The court also noted that in the past this chambermaid had also made other harassment claims. 

The way the chambermaid acted after the alleged incident cast doubts on her credibility, the court said, and the case was therefore not proved.

Dr Joe Giglio was defence counsel.