The 47-year-old operator of a Burnaby skin care business has been charged with sexual assault with a weapon in relation to alleged attacks on two clients during treatments.
Police launched an investigation in 2019, after a woman reported she had been sexually assaulted during treatment at Fab Skin Care at 5481 Kingsway, according to a Burnaby RCMP news release Thursday.
A second alleged victim who underwent treatment by the same practitioner at the clinic came forward in 2021, the release said.
This allowed the detachment’s child abuse and sexual offence unit to gather additional evidence, according to police.
On Monday, Farshad Khojsteh Kashani, 47, was charged with two counts of sexual assault with a weapon in relation to the two police complaints.
Khojsteh Kashani has since been released on bail, but under his court-ordered conditions, he is now prohibited from performing any form of laser treatments.
“We are grateful to the two women who came forward to police, but our investigators haven’t ruled out that there could be other people with information, who we have not yet heard from,” Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Michelle Hurtubise said in the release. “We are appealing for anyone else with information to contact our investigators.”
Anyone with information is asked to call a designated phone information line at 604-646-9511.
Fraser Health warning
Fraser Health is now also warning anyone who received high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) vaginal tightening services at Fab Skin Care to seek screening for sexual transmitted infections immediately.
“Fraser Health public health was made aware that this business was not providing these services through a registered health professional and was not using appropriate infection control measures while providing these services,” stated a health authority news release sent out within minutes of the police release.
Fraser Health has order Fab Skin Care to stop performing the procedure and it monitoring compliance with its order, the release said.
Fraser Health Public Health has ordered the operator to cease performing these activities and is monitoring compliance with this order.
Meantime, health officials are urging people who got the service at Fab Skin Care to visit their doctor “as soon as possible” to be screened for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.
“Members of the public should be aware that, under the BC Health Professions Act, only certain registered health professionals may perform services involving intravaginal devices or intravaginal examinations,” stated the Fraser Health release. “If a personal service establishment is using intravaginal devices, ask if their services are performed by a registered health professional.”
Health officials warned sexually transmitted infection can be asymptomatic for long periods of time and a positive test result on screening doesn't necessarily mean they contracted it at Fab Skin Care.
Fraser health warned people waiting for test results to take steps to prevent potential exposure to others, including wearing a condom when having sex.
For more information, visit https://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-topics-a-to-z/sexual-health or call 8-1-1 for questions about your health or to speak with a public health nurse.
This may be upsetting information for some individuals.
Anyone distressed or worried about someone else, can call the Fraser Health Crisis Line at 604-951-8855 or 1-800-820-7444.
Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
Email [email protected]
