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City boss 'sent jobseeker vile sexually explicit email in Latin'
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent23 Nov 2009
A hedge fund boss being sued for £4 million by a female employee sent a sexually explicit email in Latin to a young woman looking for work, a tribunal heard today.
Mark Lowe, 59, sent the message to Ariane Gordji, a friend of his children, which translated as: "I will face-f**k you and b***** you".
It was by first century BC Roman poet Catullus, reading "pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo".
Mr Lowe sent the message in February 2006 while he was on holiday in Asia.
Ms Gordji came forward after reading press coverage of the lawsuit facing him, Central London Employment Tribunal was told.
Mr Lowe is being sued his former employee at Nomos Capital, Jordan Wimmer. The 29-year-old claims she was forced out in February by her boss's explicit sexual behaviour.
Ms Wimmer's lawyer Julian Wilson, questioning Mr Lowe about the email to Ms Gordji, said: "The fact is this is explicit sexual material.
You said 'Hello Ariane' then you say 'It's Catullus and not very polite'.
"It was highly inappropriate for you to be communicating that in this way to someone seeking your help to get work in your industry.
"You must have been aware it was likely to violate her dignity. You must have been aware it was likely to create an offensive environment for her. It was clearly degrading."
Mr Lowe claimed the email was a joke and would not offend anyone who understood it. He said: "She has recalled this email for gratuitous mischief-making for reasons I don't understand."
He described Ms Gordji as an "ex friend" of his children, and said: "The fact she didn't understand Latin meant she couldn't have been offended. I don't accept the description of the poetry as a vile reference. Catullan poetry is not vile, it's burlesque."
Mr Lowe, who denies the allegations against him, claimed the Latin was a reply to an email from Ms Gordji, which included a quotation in the language from St Paul.
The hearing continues.
