A top Yahoo female executive has been sued by her former woman subordinate for sexual harassment before a California court alleging, among others, that her boss coerced her to have "oral and digital sex" with her on repeated occasions.

Maria Zhang, Yahoo Mobile's senior director of engineering, was sued by Nan Shi, a principal software engineer who worked under Zhang in 2013, for allegedly forcing her to have sex with the executive in exchange for a "bright future" at Yahoo.

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The complaint, lodged before the Santa Clara Superior Court in California last July 8, also included Yahoo company as a defendant. Aside from sexual harassment, Nan Shi charged the defendants with emotional distress and wrongful termination.

The complaint said that the two women had worked together at Propeld, Zhang's former company which was acquired by Yahoo, and that Shi worked under her since Feb 2013. Shi accused Zhang of coercing her to engage in "oral and digital sex" with her on multiple occasions at Zhang's temporary housing unit in Sunnydale, California.

Based on the complaint, Zhang allegedly promised Shi a "bright future" at Yahoo and that if Shi didn't have sex with her, "everything will be taken away from her."

The complaint further said that when Shi rejected Zhang's sexual advances, the latter started giving her poor performance ratings and even demoted her by giving her less important projects.

Shi said she sought the help of the human resource department and reported the sexual harassment but they did not conduct an investigation. Instead, she was fired without a valid reason.

Shi is seeking monetary and punitive damages in her complaint.

Lawyers for Yahoo and Zhang denied the allegations saying that Zhang is an "exemplary Yahoo executive" and that they will face all the charges and exert all efforts to clear her name.

Technology observers say the suit is the latest in a string of sexual harassment cases being lodged against top level tech executives in Silicon Valley where there is money and power.

Although this case involved two women, Mayo Da Vega, lawyer for Shi, said more sexual harassment cases can be expected since "this is a male-dominated culture."

TagsYahoo sexual harassment, Maria Zhang, Nan Shi