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Restaurateur Accused of Bribing Sexual Assault Victims
30 Mar
Summary
- Chef Walid Gad accused of assaulting six female employees.
- Owner Ljatif Ramadani allegedly offered $20,000 to silence accusers.
- Ramadani faced prior lawsuits over sub-minimum wage payments.
Ljatif "Tony" Ramadani, a prominent Connecticut restaurateur, has been arrested and charged with bribing witnesses. Documents reveal that Ramadani allegedly attempted to silence employees who accused Walid Gad, the former head chef at his MIX Prime Steakhouse, of sexual assault and harassment.
Authorities report that Gad is accused of assaulting or groping six female employees over nearly two years, with allegations including rape and inappropriate touching. One victim detailed how Gad allegedly raped her multiple times, warning her against reporting him due to her undocumented immigration status.
Ramadani, who also owns the Red Rooster Pub, is accused of dismissing the sexual assault claims and offering two women $20,000 in cash to stay quiet. While Ramadani denied offering $20,000, he admitted to offering lesser amounts and stated he was joking. He also reportedly expressed concern about the victims' immigration statuses.
Ramadani was released on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on April 9. His restaurants have previously faced lawsuits from employees alleging wage theft, though these cases did not involve sexual misconduct allegations and were eventually dismissed.
