A 28-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for a further year for pressuring a man – who had reported him to the police for assault – to withdraw his statement.
Elias Campbell Benyoucef, who is currently serving 6½ years in prison for drug-dealing, assault and driving without a licence, has had an extra year added for perverting the course of justice.
The Royal Court heard that he threatened a man who had reported him to the police by showing him photos of the alleged victim, saying: “Be careful. You are being watched.”
The alleged victim had reported Benyoucef after being hit in the head by a glass in Rojo nightclub in Beresford Street in July 2023.
The alleged victim admitted he did not see Benyoucef throw the glass, but had turned around to find him standing about two metres away laughing, and with his hands empty.
Benyoucef was charged with assault but the case was later dropped.
However, the court heard that a week after the incident Benyoucef had tried to frighten the alleged victim into withdrawing his statement.
Crown Advocate Luke Sette, prosecuting, said he asked the alleged victim for a quiet word but appeared surrounded by a group of friends.
He told the alleged victim to withdraw his statement and then showed him a series of photos of him taken without his knowledge, and said: “Be careful. You are being watched.”
Citing other previous cases of perverting the course of justice, Advocate Sette recommended a 15-month sentence.
Advocate Mike Preston, defending, said that Benyoucef still protested his innocence. He said: “He cannot express remorse for something he maintained he did not do.”
And since the assault charge against Benyoucef was later dropped, Advocate Preston pointed out: “No case was derailed.”
He added: “There was no violence involved.”
The Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, said the Jurats accepted that Benyoucef had had a difficult background and had made some good progress since being sent to jail in December.
But he added: “You do not have the benefit of good character. There are numerous previous convictions. You do not have the benefit of a guilty plea.”
He added that the charge was so serious that the sentence should run consecutively to the sentence he is already serving, and not concurrently.
Jurats Christensen and Berry were sitting.
