Hospital worker on trial for harassment

By Adnan Al-Shabrawi JEDDAH — A hospital employee accused another of sexually harassing her. A source said the private hospital in question was shut down for 60 days for causing the death of a patient out of negligence. A female employee at the hospital claimed that an Egyptian maintenance worker had sexually harassed her, stalked her and smirched her reputation. The employee demands for the alleged harasser to be punished. The source however said the Egyptian worker was shocked to hear the allegations against him. “The worker said he saw the employee in a heated argument with a doctor and he retracted from the room wishing not to get involved in any way. He said he was summoned by the police on complaints of sexual harassment,” said the source. The worker was detained for 24 hours and was later released on bail. “The worker denied the allegations which included he pulling the veil off the employee’s face. The worker asked the police to check the footage on surveillance cameras to prove his innocence,” said the source. The Egyptian worker claimed he had never entered an elevator with the female employee. “The worker also said the employee filed a lawsuit against him and said she is willing to withdraw the lawsuit if I paid her SR50,000. The worker said the employee later lowered her demand to SR30,000 and finally to SR3,000 and three goats,” said the source. The worker said he did not pay up because he was innocent and felt that he was being blackmailed. Moreover, he said he cannot afford the amount. “The worker said he is unable to hire a lawyer to represent him in court but he has trust in the Saudi judicial system,” said the source. Jeddah Tarahum Lawyers Head Ashraf Al-Siraj said Tarahum Committee for Inmates Care has a number of lawyers who volunteer to defend defendants who cannot afford to have lawyers. “The lawyers are available for consultation, memorandums and attending court hearings. The service is available to Saudi and non-Saudi clients alike. I will take up the case of the Egyptian worker with the committee,” said Al-Siraj.