A managing director accused of indecently assualti

A managing director accused of indecently assualting
his secretary fantasized about her whilst taking a shower,
a court heard today (Mon).

The secretary recorded his indecent propositions on a
pocket tape recorder hidden inside her jacket, Inner London
Crown Court heard.

Trainee accountant, Mr Hasan Mahmood, who also worked for
Leslie Sequeira, told the jury that Miss X had played the tape
to him.

‘On one occasion she went into his office and Mr Sequeira
said he wanted a holiday snap of her in a bikini,’ said Mr
Mahmood.

‘He also said: ”I was thinking of you in the shower this
morning,” and referred to her as company property.

‘
The tape was not before the court because, claimed Miss X,
it was lost when she moved home.

Mr Mahmood, 25, from Camberwell, se London was sacked
by Sequeira in March 1992 after one years service.

He claims he lost his job because he had witnessed the
managing director’s sexual harrassment – the official explanation
given to him was the recession.

He described the defendant as ‘cruel and callous’ and a
fraud who ripped off his clients, the Inland Revenue and Customs.

‘Mr Sequeira was determined to bring misery to our lives,’
said Mr Mahmood.

‘I started noticing things, that he was sexually harrassing
Miss X and I told him he shouldn’t do that, it was not adult-like.

He just ignored it (what I said).

Once in the file room I heard
Miss X say to Mr Sequeira, ”I don’t like what is happening and
it has got to stop.

”
‘He said something like, ”All women love it really” and
then he laughed,’ said Mr Mahmood.

Mr Mahmood continued that Miss X had asked him to ‘keep
an eye’ on her for protection against the defendant.

‘Mr Sequeira did not like me doing that and he banned me
from talking to her and he confiscated my telephone.

‘
Mr Mahmood said other employees in the office knew the
secretary was being harrassed but kept quiet because they could
not afford to lose their jobs and were scared of the defendant.

‘Everyone saw what was going on,’ said Mr Mahmood.

‘They are all dying to get out of that office, but they
can’t because they can’t get another job.

‘Sequeira has them under his thumb.

One of the guys is
a really nice fello and he even said to me once: ”If Mr Sequeira
got run over by a bus I wouldn’t think twice.

”
Mr Mahmood added: ‘I am one of the ones who has had the
guts to come forward.

‘
After his dismissal, Mr Mahmood told how he had complained
to several professional accountants organisations, the Inland Revenue
and Customs and Excise about the defendants ‘unethical and illegal’
methods.

Mr Mahmood said it has since been confirmed that Sequeira
was not a chartered accountant, though he led clients to believe
he was.

‘He is an outright liar,’ accused Mr Mahmood.

‘Everyone knew he was running a fraudulent practice and
ripping off his clients.

‘
The hearing continues tomorrow (Tuesday).

ENDS