Belle Property’s boss has offered his condolences to a rape victim after one of his staff was jailed for the crime.
Alexander Elmowy, who was employed at Belle Property Randwick, has been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for two acts of sexual assault that occurred in 2013.
Mr Elmowy was convicted in October 2014, but the case has only now been made public after his appeal was dismissed by the NSW Supreme Court.
Mr Elmowy was in a serious relationship with the victim between 2010 and 2012, and then continued to maintain contact with her after their separation.
He denied both charges, claiming that the first act had been consensual and the second had never occurred.
However, Supreme Court Justice Robert Macfarlan dismissed Mr Elmowy’s appeal, and said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt in the Sydney District Court.
“At trial the jury did not accept the applicant’s case that the complaints against him had been made in the aftermath of the breakdown of his former relationship with the complainant, who had used sexual allegations as a weapon against him,” Justice Macfarlan said.
Belle Property chief executive Peter Hanscomb told Real Estate Business that he felt very sorry for the victim and Mr Elmowy’s family.
Mr Hanscomb said Mr Elmowy took leave from Belle Property about a year ago due to personal reasons that were not disclosed.
The head office only found out about the court case last week, he added.
“We were in the dark and surprised and extremely disappointed that he could be involved in a matter like this, because we certainly don’t condone it,” Mr Hanscomb said.
“He was involved in a very junior role in relation to property management and assisting on projects. He’s never been a lead agent for Belle.”
Mr Elmowy will be eligible for parole in January 2017.
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