Thursday, March 28, 2024

70-year-old Esquimalt man faces four charges of sexual assault

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An Esquimalt man is facing four charges of sexual assault after a year-long Victoria Special Victims Unit (SVU) investigation.

70-year-old Kit Wong faces four charges related to historical sexual assaults involving four women.

Wong was working as an acupuncturist, massage therapist, and practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine out of his home business in Esquimalt at the time of the reported incidents.

Several of the incidents are reported to have occurred there between 2005 and 2006.

Prior to running his home business, Wong served as an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, during which he practiced traditional Chinese medicine on service members.

SVU investigators believe that given Wong’s career with the Canadian military, his work as an instructor, and practitioner of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine during the time of the allegations, there could be more unidentified victims both in Esquimalt and across Canada.

Those victims could include current and former serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces, current and former students of traditional Chinese medicine, and other members of the community.

“These alleged sexual assaults left these women feeling powerless,” SVU detective Graeme Leblanc said. “Our investigation indicates that Kit Wong’s position in the Canadian Armed Forces and in the community left women hurt by this man, feeling as though they could not come forward. It doesn’t matter who the suspect is. We will listen.”

Wong was arrested Tuesday, and released on bail with conditions on Wednesday after appearing before a judge.

He is bound by a condition to not practice Chinese medicine and not to offer any massage or other therapy, including acupuncture, that involves physical touch to any female person apart from his immediate family.

If you are a victim or have information regarding Wong that you would like to share with police, investigators ask that you to call their non-emergency line at 250-995-7654. Alternatively, you can contact the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre at 250-383-3232, or report what you know anonymously by calling Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

A video of Leblanc reading a police statement on the charges is below:

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Myles Sauer
Former staff editor and writer at Victoria Buzz.

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