A former sports official has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a member of the Mauritius Commonwealth Games team during a photo shoot while on the Gold Coast in 2018.
Kayseeven Vishwanaden Teeroovengadum was charged with the sexual assault of a female athlete, who cannot be named for legal reasons, after he allegedly grabbed her buttocks twice during a team photo four years ago.
He is facing trial in the Southport District Court and Crown Prosecutor Natalie Lima told the jury on Monday Mr Teeroovengadum was travelling with the Mauritian team as the Chef de Mission when the offences allegedly occurred.
The court heard there were several photos taken of the athletes who were in Australia for the Commonwealth Games — including a solo photo with Mr Teeroovengadum and a group photo.
Ms Lima said the athlete was standing alongside Mr Teeroovengadum and another man for the group photo when she allegedly had her buttocks squeezed twice.
The court heard the woman had tried to get the attention of the other man standing beside her when the alleged offending occurred.
The athlete told the team coach later that evening that she had been grabbed in a photo shoot and two meetings were held with the woman and officials, the jury heard.
During one meeting, Mr Teeroovengadum allegedly told the athlete "it was all in her head", but if he had unintentionally grabbed her he apologised.
The court heard the woman subsequently sought legal advice and made a police complaint.
Ms Lima asked the jury to find Mr Teeroovengadum guilty of the sexual assault but said if they were not convicted the assault was "indecent", the man could be convicted of the alternate charge of common assault.
The trial continues, with witnesses giving evidence via video link from Mauritius.
