By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-14 10:51:42 | Updated at 2025-03-14 13:20:33
2 hours ago
A former New York City banker has been charged with rape and sexual assault after he allegedly attacked a woman in her apartment.
Mark Harris, 35, is accused of raping the 25-year-old victim on February 25 after he allegedly told her that she deserved the attack, prosecutors have claimed.
The banker, who recently worked at international banking company Investec, was arrested and charged last Thursday with rape and sexual abuse, NYPD told MailOnline. He appeared before Manhattan Criminal Court the same day.
The victim has claimed that Harris pulled down her pants, held her on a mattress and raped her, despite her repeatedly trying to kick him off, according to a criminal complaint obtained by The New York Post.
Prosecutors say the victim pleaded with Harris to stop to no avail and allege that as Harris left her home, he called the victim a 'f****** bitch' and told her 'you had this coming'.
His attorney has branded the allegations against Harris as 'outlandish and demonstrably false' and says he expects the charges to be dropped.
Harris has been freed on a $150,000 cash bail, which the Post reports was requested by the prosecution.
Mark Harris walks out of Manhattan Criminal Court after he was arrested for allegedly raping a 25-year-old woman inside her Midtown apartment on February 25
Prosecutors told the court that Harris (pictured in court) pulled the victim's pants down before he held her down on a mattress and raped her. His attorney has branded the allegations against Harris as 'outlandish and demonstrably false' and says he expects the charges to be dropped
Harris was arrested on March 6 and charged with rape in the 1st degree, rape in the 3rd degree, and sexual abuse in the 3rd degree, according to the NYPD.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office confirmed that Harris appeared in court last week, but told MailOnline that 'nothing significant occurred' during the hearing.
The banker is due back in court on May 1. His attorney Jason Goldman has denounced the allegations, claiming his client is innocent.
'[The court] appearance confirmed what we already knew – that Mr. Harris has not been indicted on these outlandish and demonstrably false allegations,' he told MailOnline.
'It's unfortunate that someone of Mr. Harris' character can even be arrested and subjected to recklessly sanctionable articles based on a fictious rape claim.'
He added: 'We expect this matter to soon be dismissed.'
Goldman told the Post that their investigation has already discovered evidence that he says 'exonerates' Harris and that he hopes his client's 'reputation will not be ruined by this sanctionably false report'.
Harris has been freed on a $150,000 cash bail, which was reportedly requested by the prosecution. The banker is due back in court on May 1
Harris was employed by SMBC Bank for 11 years, serving as the director of structured and project finance, the newspaper reports.
He worked at SMBC Nikko Securities in 2022, before joining Investec, where he worked in energy and infrastructure finance.
He is understood to have last worked for the firm in November 2024.
