A former Sherman Oaks restaurateur was sentenced Wednesday to 90 days in jail for hiding a small video camera in the women’s restroom of his now-defunct eatery.
Bahram Javaherian, who co-owned Cucina Bene in the 4500 block of Sepulveda Boulevard, also was ordered to serve three years of summary probation, undergo counseling and register as a sex offender for life, according to the City Attorney’s Office.
Javaherian, 65, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of unlawfully filming persons in a partial state of undress in a bathroom.
Los Angeles police began investigating the defendant, who had co-owned the eatery for 11 years, when a restaurant employee found a camera affixed under the sink in the women’s restroom and gave it to police. He was arrested May 9.
A civil lawsuit was filed May 30 against Javaherian and the restaurant’s former co-owner, Abe E. Siani, as well as their eatery, on behalf of two patrons.
Nadereh Adeli and Remick Shaverdi Sapien allege invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and a violation of the state Civil Code. Siani and the restaurant are named only in the negligence claim, which alleges both were liable for not properly supervising Javaherian.
The lawsuit describes Adeli and Sapien as “good friends” who dined at the restaurant at least four times between November 2016 and April, using the women’s restroom during each visit. On at least one occasion, Adeli, “in addition to using the facilities, undressed completely to change into another outfit,” the lawsuit says.
Both women had a legally protected privacy interest when using the restroom at the Cucina Bene, according to their lawsuit.
–City News Service