Burnaby RCMP: Man charged with sexual assault through alleged ‘cleansing ritual’ scam
Posted September 9, 2024 2:12 pm.
Last Updated September 9, 2024 3:06 pm.
Burnaby police say a man has been charged with sexual assault related to an alleged medicine scam last month.
On Aug. 5 the Burnaby RCMP says it responded to reports of the alleged sexual assault of a 29-year-old woman by a 56-year-old-man.
The victim told Mounties she was approached at Crystal Mall in Burnaby by a man who told her he was a “Taoist Master and Chinese medicine practitioner who could perform a ritual to improve her health and life.”
Police say the two drove to another location where the suspect allegedly touched the victim inappropriately during the so-called ‘cleansing ritual.’
On Aug. 22, the suspect, Tianjin Gong, was arrested at a mall in Richmond. The next day, the BC Prosecution Service approved one charge of sexual assault against Gong.
Police say he was released from custody under the condition that he doesn’t contact the victim or leave the province.
The Burnaby RCMP is asking anyone who may have had contact with Gong to contact investigators at 604-646-9999 and quote file 2024-26628.
