Bedford massage therapist charged with sexual assault again - Saltwire

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A Bedford massage therapist has been charged with sexual assault for the third time.

Adnan Al-Rassi, 51, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman last August.

Al-Rassi was arrested in December and released on an undertaking to police that prohibits him from having contact with the alleged victim, whose identity is protected by a publication ban.

He was arraigned in Halifax provincial court in January.

During a court appearance Tuesday, defence lawyer Don Murray said he had just picked up a flash drive containing additional evidence from the Crown.

Murray said further disclosure material is expected after the prosecutor meets with the complainant. He said he hopes to be ready to make an election for his client and possibly enter a plea when the case returns to court in mid-May.

In 2013, Al-Rassi was acquitted on two counts of sexual assault, both involving female clients, after separate trials in provincial court and Nova Scotia Supreme Court. He was accused of inappropriately touching one of the women during a massage session in May 2011 and masturbating in front of the other woman in September 2011.

At the time of those allegations, Al-Rassi was operating Eden Massage Therapy out of his home on Dartmouth Road. He now runs a company called All Sports and Wellness Inc. at the same address.