Bedford masseur faces 2nd sexual assault charge
CBC News
Posted: Mar 1, 2012 4:59 PM AT
Last Updated: Mar 1, 2012 6:01 PM AT
A massage therapist faces a second charge of sexual assault that allegedly took place during a massage last spring.
Adnan Al-Rassi, 41, already faced charges stemming from an incident in November.
Al-Rassi's name is listed on the Eden Massage Therapy website, which is run out of a home in Bedford.
The most recent incident was from a woman who reported an assault that took place last May as she received a massage at the home business.
The woman claimed during her treatment she was touched inappropriately.
"The second woman ... contacted police and advised that she had attended the same location for a massage and had been touched in an inappropriate manner which we determined would be of a sexual manner, so we've investigated that and as a result laid additional charges," said Const. Brian Palmeter.
He was also accused of masturbating in front of a woman during her massage in November, according to Halifax police.
"There is a safety risk obviously, and secondly if it caused somebody to come forward, perhaps there are other victims out there they may see this and choose to come forward," Palmeter said.
"We would certainly like to speak with anyone that does feel they've been a victim of a crime of this nature."
Al-Rassi is scheduled to appear in Halifax provincial court in April for the recent charge.
Massage therapists are not regulated in Nova Scotia.
The Massage Therapists Association of Nova Scotia (MTANS) issued a statement Thursday afternoon on the charges.
"MTANS does have a complaint process in place but has not received a complaint from the public at this time," said Donna Noddin in an email to CBC News.
"Depending on the outcome of the court case, MTANS can initiate its own complaint and act in accordance at that time."
Because the assocation is not a regulatory body with approval from government to self-regulate, Noddin said, the assocation doesn't have authority to restrict any member’s ability to practice.
"The most MTANS can do is to remove the member from the association, but it has no authority to restrict the member’s practice."
Share Tools
Latest Nova Scotia News Headlines
- Runner dies after collapsing in Cape Breton race
- A man died after collapsing during the Cabot Trail Relay Race on Sunday morning. more »
- HMCS Ojibwa leaves Halifax for Ontario museum
- HMCS Ojibwa left Halifax on the weekend to begin its new life at a museum in Ontario. more »
- Six Cape Breton Catholic churches closing
- Several Cape Breton Roman Catholic church buildings will close and be replaced with one parish, Sydney churchgoers learned Sunday. more »
- Third Halifax shooting may be random: police
- A man was shot in Halifax Saturday night in what police say appears to have been a random act. more »
Top News Headlines
- Canadian Pacific strikers face back-to-work legislation
- Labour Minister Lisa Raitt is prepared to end the Canadian Pacific Railway strike if necessary, after both CP and the union rejected a proposal for voluntary arbitration by the government-appointed negotiator on Sunday. Raitt says she is "extremely disappointed." more »
- Syrian regime denies role in Houla massacre
- The UN Security Council condemned the Syrian regime at an emergency meeting Sunday, holding president Bashar al-Assad's military responsible for the massacre of more than 100 people, dozens of whom were children younger than 10 years old. more »
- Ryder Hesjedal wins prestigious Giro d'Italia
- Victoria native Ryder Hesjedal has become the first Canadian to win one of the cycling world's three Grand Tour events, wrapping up the 2012 Giro d'Italia with an excellent performance in the final stage in Milan. more »
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Two Winnipeg children who had been missing for nearly four years were found in Mexico after a man raised concerns about his neighbour, according to a private investigator. more »
- Remains found in bag on Cape Breton river ID'd
- Runner dies after collapsing in Cape Breton race
- HMCS Ojibwa leaves Halifax for Ontario museum
- Woman's remains found in hockey bag on Cape Breton river
- Six Cape Breton Catholic churches closing
- Third Halifax shooting may be random: police
- Halifax police name homicide victim
- Driver dies in Eastern Passage crash
- Halifax homicide linked to drugs
