Chef jailed for four years over sexual assault after court rejects appeal
Defendant's appeal questioned victim's credibility
A chef who was accused of sexually assaulting a long-term colleague has been jailed for four years after losing an appeal.
Back in July 2024, Mohammed Abraham Manneh, 28, from Mali, was accused of committing a non-consensual act of a sexual nature on a female colleague and causing her slight bodily harm. He was also accused of holding her against her will, harassment, causing her fear of violence, as well as offending public morals or decency.
He had pleaded not guilty.
The incident happened after Manneh asked a long-term female colleague to give him a lift home to Rabat. The court had heard how he allegedly touched her breasts and made more intimate contact. After the episode, the woman went to Mosta health centre, where she was found to have bruises and blood on her breasts. Her injuries were certified as slight, and she also filed a police report.
In February, the accused was found guilty of carrying out a sexual act without consent, slightly injuring the victim, and sexually harassing her. The court had cleared him of unlawful arrest and causing fear of violence, while it had abstained from deciding the public indecency charge.
The defendant’s appeal contested the conviction by questioning the credibility of the victim. While he did not deny that the sexual act took place, he strongly contested the lack of consent. It also argued that the Court made an incorrect assessment of the evidence.
The appeal court rejected the defendant's argument that the first court had wrongly assessed the evidence, saying it was entitled to believe the victim's account.
The court rejected the defendant's claims that the four-year sentence was excessive, noting that the offence was within the legal range of three to seven years for the primary offence and was not "manifestly excessive" or "disproportionate", given the gravity of the crimes and the appellant's abuse of a relationship of trust and friendship.
The court dismissed the appeal and confirmed the judgment in full. It also banned the publication of the victim's name and any details that could identify her.
Justice Neville Camilleri presided over the Appeal court.