Bully boss who slapped his apprentice while he was hung upside down at a work Christmas party in Melbourne makes shock claim

A bully boss caught on camera slapping, prodding and laughing at his apprentice while he was hung upside down at a work Christmas party claims he's suffered enough from the resulting bad publicity. 

Steven Yousif, 27, pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court to operating an unsafe workplace on Monday.

Ilyas Elkharraz, who was aged 23 at the time, said he was 'degraded, humiliated and embarrassed' by his ordeal, which was filmed by a work 'mate' at the window manufacturing business in December 2020.

Video played to the Melbourne Magistrates' Court showed Yousif repeatedly slapping the helpless young worker as others laughed in the background.

Mr Elkharraz, who moved to Australia from Morocco, quit his job with Melbourne Glass Solutions, after the abuse and launched a case with Victoria's workplace safety watchdog. 

Yousif's barrister Joseph D'Abaco claimed his client had suffered enough from the fallout of that expose. 

'There is evidence before you of the adverse publicity which was attracted by the laying of these charges by the prosecution and the screening of a program on A Current Affair,' he said. 

'That program and the consequential publicity has a degree of notoriety in the public forum.'

Mr D'Abaco complained that his client's customers and potential customers had been put-off by his atrocious behaviour.

'Indeed some customers, some building contractors, have terminated their business relationship as a result,' he said. 

Yousif personally faces an $80,000 fine, but his company, which now trades under the name JADEN Commercial Windows, will escape justice after he wound down Melbourne Glass Solutions upon WorkSafe Victoria taking an interest in it. 

Mr D'Abaco called on Magistrate Andrew Sim to not only limit his client's financial penalty, but spare him from a conviction. 

The barrister claimed a hefty penalty might cause Yousif to wind down JADEN and cost the jobs of his young employees. 

'There is a real risk if the court enters a conviction against Mr Yousif this would affect JADEN's ability to successfully tender for certain projects.' Mr D'Abaco said. 

'It would clearly impose a serious financial impost upon JADEN ... but it would also affect the employees of JADEN ... who could potentially be collateral damage here for no fault of their own.'

It was a submission frowned upon by Mr Sim. 

'It's regrettable that wasn't front-and-centre of your client's mind when he engaged in a course of bullying conduct for two years and two months,' he responded. 

Mr Sim also criticised Yousif for providing no real evidence backing-up his claims the ACA report had impacted on his company. 

'There's nothing before the court to establish in concrete terms that there's been an adverse impact on the company's finances,' he said.  

The court heard Yousif admitted to relentlessly tormenting Mr Elkharraz and another young employee. 

In opening the case, WorkSafe Victoria prosecutor Tristan Joseph said Yousif's behaviour had long lasting impacts on Mr Elkharraz. 

'During the course of his employment he was bullied by Mr Yousif, which has gradually worn him down and has had an enormous effect on his mental health,' he said. 

'Mr Elkharraz alleges Mr Yousif physically harmed him, verbally insulted him and threatened to terminate his employment.'

The court heard Yousif also forbid Mr Elkharraz from attending his TAFE classes. 

Video played to the court showed a topless Mr Elkharraz strung-up from the roof of Yousif's warehouse during the company's Christmas party in 2020. 

'Part of the incident was filmed and shared on SnapChat. The video depicts a topless Mr Elkharraz being slapped by Mr Yousif while suspended above the ground,' Mr Joseph said. 

In another incident, Mr Elkharraz claimed his boss threatened to 'smack him' before grabbing him by the neck and pushing him to the ground. 

Another employee claimed Yousif threatened to sack him, intimidated him and swore at him. 

Like Mr Elkharraz, the victim also claimed he was forbidden from attending his studies. 

'He claimed he felt fearful, intimidated, insulted and threatened as a result,' Mr Joseph said. 

The court heard Yousif provided a 'no comment' interview to WorkSafe investigators when questioned about his offending. 

Magistrate Sim, who will sentence Yousif next month, condemned Yousif's behaviour, which he said was compounded by him being the sole director of the company. 

'Treating employees, when you're the boss and running the company in a respectful way that doesn't engage in the conduct that's alleged in this matter, it's not rocket science,' he said.

When discussing the release of court documents to the media, the respected magistrate was forced to admonish Yousif's barrister after he launched into a long winded rant.

The heated exchange saw Mr D'Abaco repeatedly speak over the magistrate and raise his voice at him. 

'I don't think the belligerent tone is necessarily helpful Mr D'Abaco,' Mr Sims told the barrister before standing down the hearing and walking out of the court. 

When the matter returned, Mr D'Abaco apologised to Mr Sim. 

'If your honour apprehended me as being belligerent, I apologise sir. It was not intended,' he said. 

Yousif will be sentenced in December.