A businessman accused of indecently assaulting a dozen women during job interviews, including at his business, has faced an Adelaide court — which heard there may be more than 70 victims in total.
Solomon Farah, 67, has been charged with four counts of aggravated indecent assault and 10 counts of indecent assault.
Mr Farah was taken into custody on Wednesday night after police allegedly found a silencer and bullet stored insecurely at his Oakden home, and he has also been charged with two counts of breaching bail and two counts of breaching firearms regulations.
The Adelaide Magistrates Court heard Mr Farah had been arrested on February 7 after a victim came forward, alleging she had been inappropriately touched by the accused during a “trial job interview-type situation” at his business, Skin Fit Co on Currie Street in the Adelaide CBD.
“He rubbed lotion on her, felt up her breasts under her shirt and made comments about keeping her breasts bouncy with lotion,” a prosecutor told the court.
Following a search of his phone and property, police allegedly seized a number of firearms and identified up to 78 further potential victims.
The prosecutor said that after making contact with a number of the potential victims, a total of 12 women have now come forward and that it was “very likely” there would be more.
Court documents allege all of the assaults took place during job interviews between January 2023 and February 2024.
The court heard Mr Farah was previously granted bail which included the condition that he was not to possess a firearm, ammunition or any part of a firearm.
Mr Farah defence lawyer’s Andrew Ey made an application for special circumstances for bail.
He said Mr Farah was a man of “exemplary character” and “extremely hard-working” and that he had been the CFO of businesses including Cibo and other cafes.
Mr Ey said the silencer device that was found “can’t be used to fire” and that Mr Farah “simply had forgotten about the moderator in his bedside table”.
A guarantor offered a $10,000 surety for bail.
The prosecution was opposed to any form of bail and said that sound moderators were prohibited.
“I would submit it was intentionally hidden so he wouldn’t be charged with the offences he’s now been charged with,” the prosecutor said.
A decision on whether or not Mr Farah will be granted home detention bail will be made next week.
