In his white baker's uniform, with his head bowed, Habibullah Afghan-Baig sat accused of groping and assaulting two young women looking for work in his Sydney business.
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Mr Afghan-Baig, 38, who owns and runs the Afghan and Arab Bakery in Fairfield, appeared in Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday morning, and pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault.
Police said his two alleged victims had replied to a job advertisement posted on the Gumtree classifieds website and met Mr Afghan-Baig at his new, unopened business in Lakemba.
According to a charge sheet before the court, Mr Afghan-Baig allegedly grabbed and held a 20-year-old woman's breasts while he hugged her from behind on July 14.
Then on Wednesday, Mr Afghan-Baig allegedly had sex with a 21-year-old woman, knowing she did not consent, at the Lakemba business, the court document said.
He is also accused of indecently assaulting her, by allegedly touching and licking her exposed breasts.
Mr Afghan-Baig's Legal Aid solicitor, Danilo Rajkovic, said his client denied the charges and needed to be free on bail to continue running his business, and to open his new bakery.
Mr Rajkovic said his client's arrest had damaged his reputation as a high-profile businessman, who had been interviewed by several newspapers and SBS.
"He tells me he's extremely embarrassed at being handcuffed and arrested in front of staff and customers at his store and walked three streets by police," Mr Rajkovic told the court.
"He's at risk of losing everything. He's been operating this business for 12 years now; he's built a reputation as a respected member of the Fairfield community.
"He will be defending this charge at trial and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence."
The job ad remains on the Gumtree website, calling for "someone to do customers service and helping around the bakery ... can start tomorrow must be reliable and seriously want to work".
The magistrate noted the two alleged victims were not connected, and that investigators were waiting on the results of forensic testing.
But he granted bail, in part noting that delays in the NSW District Court meant that Mr Afghan-Baig might not get a trial date for 300 days.
Mr Afghan-Baig was ordered to post $2000 surety, surrender his passport, and report daily to Fairfield police.
He will appear in Burwood Local Court on September 3.
