Bedford massage therapist headed to trial on sexual assault charge - Saltwire

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A Bedford massage therapist has pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexually assaulting a woman last August.

Lawyer Don Murray entered the plea for Adnan Al-Rassi, 51, on Monday in Halifax provincial court.

Judge Gregory Lenehan scheduled Al-Rassi’s trial for two days in June 2023.

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

In 2013, Al-Rassi was found not guilty on two counts of sexual assault 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.

Al-Rassi was operating Eden Massage Therapy at his home on Dartmouth Road at the time of those allegtions. He now runs All Sports and Wellness Inc. at the same address.