yesterday of indecently assaulting a 21-year-old co-worker.

The Wor. John Judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to support the man had any indecent intentions towards the woman. It was his nature to be affectionate in "a Latin kind of way'', Mr. Judge found.

Mr. Mark Pettingill, representing the man, said afterwards that his client never should have been charged with indecent assault.

Her complaint basically amounted to sexual harassment. But there was no such offence on the law books, he noted, and his client was not guilty of such behaviour anyway.

Furthermore, he claimed, prosecutor Sgt. Peter Giles failed to prove an assault took place.

The 21-year-old Portuguese-Bermudian woman had claimed her boss locked her in his office and fondled her in the daytime of March 1 when she went to get some keys.

She testified he held her by the shoulder, touched her on the bottom and tried to kiss her after giving her a silver ring as a present.

But the man, denying the offence, said the door had locked automatically. And he said he had only touched her on the shoulder.

He admitted he tried to kiss her but said that was how he usually greeted her.

He said he had no indecent intentions and it would not have been difficult for her to get away.

The married woman had testified further that the man told her he loved her after giving her the ring. She said she managed to escape his embrace and told a friend, the hotel's general manager and then Police.

Mr. Judge ruled there was not enough evidence to support claims of indecency.

He concluded the two parties knew each other well and had had physical contact before.

Mr. Judge also noted other co-workers had testified a quick kiss was the way he usually greeted female employees, including the complainant -- males got a handshake.

Mr. Pettingill had said his client was "a demonstrative and affectionate'' man by nature.