Victoria Police have upped the number of sexual assault charges a local massage specialist is facing.
As of Oct. 5, Ajesh Jacob, 35, sometimes known as ‘Sam’, is now facing a total of 10 counts of sexual assault, according to court documents.
The sexual assault charges span a time period of two years, from May 2019 to March 2021, with some victims alleging multiple occasions of sexual assault.
The charges were spurred by a series of three allegations of sexual assault that were posted on Survivor Stories Project’s Instagram page in March of this year.
“He pulled the sheet down completely down and started fondling the entire front of my body. I had to scream and turn my body away from him and continued to make noise until he left the room,” one post alleged.
Another post went on to say “he proceeded to fondle my breasts … I was frozen. I couldn’t move.”
Since then, Victoria Police’s Special Victim’s Unit has been investigating Jacob over ‘several’ allegations of sexual violence.
“The possibility and likelihood that there are additional survivors in our community where we get to speak with us. It’s very reasonable to believe that that is the case,” said Const. Cam Macintyre on June 2 to CHEK News.
Since the public plea from police, Jacob is now facing more charges — a total of 10 counts of sexual assault.
Back in June, CHEK News confirmed with the manager of Big Feet in downtown Victoria, that Jacob had worked there for two years. She said that a client had reported to her that Jacob touched her during a session on Dec. 29, 2020.
When confronted, Jacob denied it. She says she suspended him for two weeks, but ultimately re-instated him.
As of Monday morning, there now is a publication ban on the case protecting the names and identities of any of the victims or witnesses, because at least one victim is a minor, the court registry told CHEK News.
Jacob is free on bail but under protective conditions, including he can no longer provide massage services
None of the allegations against Jacob have been proven in court.
If you have been a victim of sexualized violence, you can contact the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre.
Kori Sidaway
