The unnamed ‘politically exposed’ Swiss man who on Monday was found guilty of sexually harassing a hotel worker has been kicked out of the political party he was a member of.
The 59-year-old man was handed a two-year prison sentence suspended for three years, after pleading guilty to sexually harassing a cleaner.
The court had approved the defence’s request to ban the publication of the accused man’s name on the basis that he is a politically exposed person, and the incident could have a serious impact on his career.
In a statement published on Thursday, the president’s office of The Centre, the centre-right party in whose name the man had contested an election for the Ascona City Council in the Canton of Ticino, said it had acknowledged media reports regarding his conviction.
“The Centre believes that criminal convictions for sexual harassment are completely incompatible with the honour required to carry out any political activity and expresses its sympathy and solidarity with anyone who has been a victim of similar behaviour.”
The party said that while the person in question does not and has never held any office both public or within the party, it had asked its Ascona Section to immediately initiate measures to exclude him from the party.
Meanwhile, Swiss tabloid newspaper Blick reported on Wednesday that the man had deceived the courts into believing he was ‘politically exposed’.
“That was, to say the least, a gross exaggeration. The small business owner is neither politically nor professionally exposed. His political career consists solely of his running for a seat in the municipal parliament of Ascona, Ticino, for the ‘The Centre’ party last year, where he was completely unsuccessful,” the report says.
It is understood that the man arrived in Malta on Saturday. The following morning, a cleaner at the Corinthia St George’s Bay hotel was cleaning the man’s room when he asked for a coffee, which she brought for him.
She finished cleaning the room and began cleaning the opposite room. The man followed her out and requested a bottle of water.
The woman returned to his room with the water and found him naked. While she tried to leave the room, the man grabbed her and began kissing her neck and face.
She eventually managed to get out and find another employee before reporting the guest to the hotel’s HR department.
In court on Monday, the man was accused of harassing the woman by subjecting her to acts with sexual connotations and attempting to use force against her. He admitted the charges.
The prosecution did not object to the request banning the publication of the man’s name on the condition that the victim’s identity was also protected. The court upheld the request.
The man was handed a two-year prison sentence suspended for three years.
A three-year restraining order was issued in favour of the victim.
Victim Support Malta slammed the ban on the publication of the accused’s name saying it sent “a harmful message”.
In a social media post, they expressed their “deep concern” about the court’s decision arguing this gave the impression that “if a perpetrator holds enough power or influence, they can commit crimes without facing the full social and professional consequences.”
They added that victims, meanwhile, have to live with the psychological impact of what they endured.
“When justice protects the identity of the perpetrator while shielding their reputation, it erodes public trust — and leaves other women at risk,” Victim Support Malta said