Victoria masseur charged with sex assault; police seek more victims
A Victoria masseur is facing a sexual assault charge, prompting investigators to seek others who may have been attacked.
Ajesh Jacob, 35, has been charged with one count of sexual assault stemming from an incident at a massage and reflexology business where he worked in the 700-block of Fort Street, police said Wednesday.
Jacob, who goes by the name “Sam,” is the focus of “several additional allegations of sexualized violence,” according to police.
Investigators believe there may be other survivors who have not yet spoken with police.
The investigation into Jacob began in March, police said Wednesday.
The manager of Big Feet Reflexology and Acupressure tells CTV News that Jacob worked at the business for approximately two years and seemed to have a good relationship with clients and staff.
Linda Xu says she was made aware of the investigation into her employee in April, at which point she asked him to resign. Jacob promptly left the business and has not worked there since, Xu added.
Jacob was arrested on May 13 and has been released on conditions, including that he not perform massage services on any person.
Since that time, additional survivors have come forward with complaints about the man, police said.
Anyone with information about the assault or other unreported assaults is asked to contact Victoria police at 250-995-7654 or Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Correction
This story has been changed to refer to the accused as a masseur, not a massage therapist. Massage therapist is a title that refers to someone registered with the college of massage therapists of British Columbia, which the accused is not.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
"It's a bit of a complicated pattern; we've got a lot going on," said Jennifer Smith of the Meteorological Service of Canada in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday. "[As is] typical with weather, all of these things are related."
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.