AYA's boss wants sexual harassment case settled outside court

AYA boss, Hamid Mohammed. Photo/File

A lawyer representing the woman who alleges that was sexually harassed by AYA boss, Hamid Mohammed has said the investor wants settlement outside court.

George Musisi told New Vision that he has been contacted by Hamid's lawyers for talks. "They contacted me on Tuesday and I am waiting for formal communication from them to kick-start the discussions," Musisi said.

"I can't engage them in informal settlement because what happened to the State Minister of Labour, Herbert Kabafunzaki can also happen to me," Musisi said.

The minister was arrested recently on allegation that he solicited for and received a bribe from Hamid. At the time of his arrest, the minister was meeting AYA's men at Serena Hotel in Kampala to help the investor settle the case amicably.

"If the settlement is formal, we are ready to reach a compromise although our interest is in pursuing a criminal matter," Musisi said. "But even the Magistrates' courts allow for such compromise."

New Vision has learnt that if the two sides are to talk; discussion will concentrate around the physical assault, sexual harassment and Jamila's salary arrears of two months.  

Jamila's story came to the limelight recently when she ran to the media and accused Hamid of sexual harassment. Jamila, a former procurement officer at AYA Group, said Hamid would summon her to his office anytime and force her to help him masturbate.

Jamila said that when she refused to help Hamid masturbate recently, he slapped her. "I resigned the job and reported him to Central Police Station and later at Old Kampala Police Station," she said.
 
The case has since attracted the ire among human rights lawyers and women activists who are demanding that the suspect be arrested and prosecuted in the courts of law.  The activists accused the Police of trying to trample the case.     

Musisi said Jamila's case had been fixed for hearing in June at the labour court at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). He added that the Police were also conducting their own investigations to prefer criminal charges against Hamid.

"The file went to the state attorney who has asked Police to talk to two more witnesses regarding the assault case before sending it back to him," he said.  

Asked about Himid's move to settle the case outside court, Jamila told Saturday Vision that she had no comment. Hamid has in the past denied the sexual harassment allegations. ​