A man who admitted to secretly filming female colleagues while they were using the toilet at work has returned to his job at a state-run medical institution in Gozo, prompting concern among staff.The employee, whose identity remains protected by a court order, was handed a one-year prison sentence suspended for four years in April after pleading guilty to filming colleagues without their consent and sexually harassing them.As reported by Times of Malta, the man returned to work last week, with women employed in his section expressing unease over his presence. One employee reportedly requested a transfer.One employee described the man’s return as deeply unsettling, saying staff fear he could reoffend or commit even more serious acts. She urged authorities to prioritise the safety of women and vulnerable patients.The case emerged after two women reported to police that a colleague had secretly recorded them while they were using the workplace toilet.Although the accused initially pleaded not guilty, he changed his plea during the same court sitting after police presented the videos as evidence.Alongside the suspended sentence, the court imposed a three-year treatment order, a two-year restraining order protecting both victims and ordered him to pay €1,500 in damages to each woman.Asked why the employee had been allowed to return to work, the Health Ministry pointed to the court’s judgment, which considered his cooperation with police, early guilty plea, previously clean criminal record and the fact that he had sought professional help to address his behaviour.Magistrate Monica Vella ruled that the conviction should not automatically prevent him from returning to his job, provided authorities ensured he would not be placed in a role where similar conduct could occur.The Health Ministry said it had implemented several safeguards.According to the ministry, the employee received a four-year warning of dismissal, forfeited salaries withheld during the investigation and has been reassigned to a workplace in a separate building that operates only during daytime hours, has no shower facilities and includes additional measures aimed at protecting both patients and staff.Reacting to the case, Women’s Rights Foundation coordinator Lara Dimitrijevic described the decision to allow the man back into a government-run medical institution as “appalling”.“Sexual harassment is not a minor offence and constitutes a serious violation of a person’s dignity and psychological integrity,” she said, adding that survivors often suffer lasting trauma and that employers have both a legal and moral duty to provide a safe working environment.She argued that public institutions should lead by example when it comes to protecting employees rather than undermining their confidence in workplace safety.Do you think he should have been allowed to return to work?•