Real estate agent cleared of rape, abuse charges

A successful real estate agent has been acquitted of sexually assaulting multiple women at open houses.

Omar Lababidi faced 26 charges, including rape and sexual touching, between 2021 and 2023, following the allegations of three women.

But after almost 13 hours of deliberation, the jury found him not guilty of all charges on Friday.

During the trial, prosecutors alleged he pinned three women against a wall while working nine separate inspections in Sydney’s south-west.

A woman claimed she was forced to perform oral sex on Mr Lababidi at three open houses.

He also allegedly exposed himself to her without her consent.

Prosecutors said this showed a pattern of behavior based on sexual interest while he was working.

Although the 29-year-old woman did not deny being attracted to women and flirting with them, she did not believe a criminal act had occurred.

His barrister, Simon Buchen SC, argued his client had a reasonable belief that all three women had consented to the intimate conduct and said the jury had not decided in a “court of morality”.

The attorney also urged jurors to consider whether some actions would have occurred without consent.

“There’s a difference between feeling remorseful after the fact and not consenting to something during the incident,” he told the jury during the trial.