Restaurant owner arrested and charged with bribing victims of sexual assault: Warrant

The owner of three restaurants in Connecticut has been arrested and charged with trying to cover up sexual assaults by bribing victims. He was set to face a judge in Waterbury on Thursday, but had his case continued.

The warrant for his arrest indicated some of the allegations date back to 2023.

A Woodbury restaurant owner was arrested and charged with bribery after it was alleged that he tried to pay off victims of sexual assault who worked there.

Ljatif Ramadani owns Mix Prime Steakhouse, where the alleged victims reported they were assaulted by a chef, identified as Walid Gad.  

Following a state police investigation, a total of six victims were identified, five of whom were noted to be undocumented immigrants.

“For them to come forward was great on their part because many wouldn’t have,” said Detective Sgt. Jared Barbero of the Western District Major Crime unit.

Following the sex assaults, the victims told police they began alerting management to what happened. It’s alleged that the owner, Ramadani, offered at least two of them upwards of $20,000 for their silence.

The arrest warrant also outlines leveraging the victim’s immigration status against them.  

“Whatever someone has told you, that there is going to be action against you, to report this, we are here to tell you that’s not true,” said Barbero.

State Police Western District Major Crimes Unit was the investigating agency.

Barbero said investigators decided to serve one of the warrants at the restaurant during operating hours, in the presence of staff, because of a history of effectiveness in doing so. As they hoped, he said it brought forward more information to build this case.

“In order to elicit more victims or witnesses to come forward, the best thing to do is when you are looking for evidence, do it publicly,” said Barbero.

Ramadani, in an interview with police, claimed that anything perceived as a bribe was a joke and offered money only to help the victims while they were out of work. But he wanted any monetary transactions in writing.

Barbero said any sex assault case is difficult, but one where there are concerns of retaliation or a power dynamic is even harder.

But he wants victims to know that resources are available and that police are there to help.

“We are behind you, we believe you and we are going to investigate this until we find facts, and investigate like it’s true,” he said.

Ramadani had his arraignment date continued to May, and the chef, Walid Gad, will be arraigned on April 28th.

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