Surrey massage therapist faces 8 sex assault charges
Posted July 27, 2023 12:46 pm.
Last Updated July 27, 2023 12:49 pm.
A massage therapist in Surrey is facing a number of sexual assault charges in connection with incidents that date back to 2001.
The RCMP says it first received reports in November 2021 that a person had been assaulted while receiving therapy treatments between February 2016 and August 2017.
Throughout its investigation, the force says officers identified eight potential victims, saying the alleged offences took place between December 2001 and April 2017.
At the time, suspect Leonard Krekic was said to have been working at a clinic in the area of 136A Street and King George Boulevard. Krekic was also practicing in two Penticton clinics between 2018 and 2019, police say.
The 51-year-old was charged with eight counts of sexual assault on July 10, 2023.
He was arrested around a week later, on July 18. He has since been released on conditions, which include “not to seek, obtain, or continue with any volunteer position or employment that involves touching or therapeutic treatment of another person’s body, including any form of massage or fitness training.”
The RCMP says it is releasing a photo of Krekic as it believes there may be others in the community with more information to share.
Investigators are asking anyone with more information to contact the Surrey RCMP Special Victim’s Unit at 604-599-0502.
