Malta Philharmonic Orchestra Member Accused Of Sexual Molestation, Victim Silenced By CEO
A woman has accused her male colleague within the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra of sexually molesting her.
The accused allegedly slapped her bottom, gave her neck messages, revealed her bra by pulling her top, and sent her sexual text messages.
However, she has now been faced with denial and accusations of being paranoid by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra’s CEO, Sigmund Mifsud.
When the victim reported the ordeal to Mifsud more than a year ago, not only was nothing done but action was actually taken to counter-act her accusations.
She was forced to delete the Whatsapp messages, and Mifsud supposedly instructed members of the orchestra to keep quiet about the ordeal during a meeting.
In court, on Tuesday, the woman stated that the harassment started during her first week working with the orchestra. She outlined how she immediately made it clear that such behavior was unwanted.
Aside from the inappropriate touching, the accused would also send her explicit videos of naked women, and photos of friends with accompanying texts like ‘’big boobs’’.
She requested a sabbatical, after several attempts to talk to the CEO, as nothing was changing and her health was worsening as a result of the abuse.
However, Mifsud worried that she would not return, and therefore, did not approve her sabbatical request.
On 24th September, she submitted her resignation to the CEO and copied Reuben Sammut in the email, HR head, and financial controller of the orchestra.
“What’s your purpose? What do you want to do with this letter?” Mifsud asked her when she was called into his office.
“You’re too sensitive. It’s your perspective,” he told her.
Mifsud further stated, in court, that he had thought that the woman and the accused colleague would “end up together”.
The woman recorded multiple conversations with Mifsud and also managed to record the interaction and confrontation with the male colleague who was abusing her.
While testifying during Tuesday’s court sitting, Sammut stated that he almost sent an email to the secretary reporting a serious case of sexual harassment, but was told, by Mifsud, not to send it and to instead talk to the permanent secretary face-to-face.
The two other employees who took the stand during the court hearing were the finance and administrative assistant, Shirley Farrugia Calleja, and the manager, Sarah Debono.
Farrugia Calleja told the court that “Mifsud did not ask me to do anything”.
On the other hand, Debono exclaimed that she zoned out as soon as she heard the words “sexual harassment”, during the meeting held with Mifsud.
When Debono was further interrogated about it she continued saying, “yes, it might sound strange. But when I hear that term, it reminds me of my own personal experience and I shut down”.
Mifsud was granted bail, with a deposit of €1000 and a personal guarantee of €5000.
He has now been suspended from the orchestra on half-pay and was given a strict warning not to approach any of the witnesses.
What do you make of this case?
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