The state has dismissed all charges against a Connecticut restaurant owner who had been accused of offering $20,000 to silence witnesses in a sexual assault investigation.
Ljatif "Tony" Ramadani, 68, appeared in Superior Court in Waterbury on Tuesday, when the State's Attorney's office indicated it would not be moving forward with any prosecution against him.
Ramadani's defense attorney, Jerry E. Attanasio, this week announced all charges against his client have been formally dismissed.
"From the start, there were serious provability issues for the state," Attanasio said.
State Judicial Branch records confirm there are no longer any charges against Ramadani.
State police had arrested Ramadani in March and charged him with two counts of bribery.
Police claimed he had offered money to individuals connected to a sexual assault case against one of his former employees, Walid Gad.
Ramadani owns MIX Prime Steakhouse, Fish & Sushi Bar in Woodbury and Red Rooster Pub in Wilton.
Gad, a Waterbury resident, had worked as a head chef at the Woodbury restaurant.
Attanasio said when Ramadani was notified by his manager about claims of sexual misconduct involving Gad, Ramadani immediately terminated Gad.
"My client was then contacted and solicited by an individual posing as an attorney for the two alleged victims," Attanasio said.
The individual claiming to be an attorney asked Ramadani for a meeting about resolving a civil lawsuit, and Ramadani met the person with another employee as a witness, according to Attanasio.
Attanasio said the imposter attorney asked Ramadani to compensate two women who claim Gad assaulted them, as Ramadani is their employer.
"Ramadani did not compensate anyone. There was never a bribe or a form of hush money," Attanasio said.
Ramadani left the meeting with no money exchanged after indicating he would need any civil claim settlement to be formalized, according to Attanasio.
"Ljatif Ramadani owns many restaurants and has provided a fine dining establishment to our community for many years," Attanasio said. "The actions of one rogue employee are separate from Mr. Ramadani. As an owner, when the conduct was reported to him, he acted swiftly and immediately terminated his employee."
Attanasio said his client never committed any crime. He asserted the state should have pursued charges against the individual who pretended to be an attorney instead.
"The real crime here is that there is a man in the Danbury area posing as an attorney, preying on the immigrant community," Attanasio said. "This man takes their money to perform legal work wherein he is not licensed to do so."
State's Attorney Maureen Platt did not respond to a request for comment this week.
Gad's case, meanwhile, is still pending, with his next court date scheduled for Nov. 19.
Read more:
CT Restaurant Owner Accused Of Offering $20K To Silence Assault Victims In Danbury Pleads Not Guilty
Restaurant Owner Accused Of Offering $20K To Silence Assault Victims In Danbury: State Police
Ex-Head Chef At Restaurant In Woodbury Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Staff: Police
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