An Indo-Canadian man has been finally charged with a 2023 sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl which happened at or near a Sikh temple in Surrey. Surrey RCMP said this week that the man initially arrested last year has now been charged in connection with a sexual assault investigation which began in May 2023. Fifty-nine-year-old Ajastar Singh was charged on July 2, 2024 with sexual assault and sexual interference of a person under the age of 16 years. On May 4, 2023, Surrey RCMP received a report that a 15-year-old female youth had been sexually assaulted at or in the area of the Gurudwara Dukh Nivaran located in the 15200-block of 68 Avenue. Surrey RCMP Special Victims Unit conducted the investigation and identified Singh as a suspect, who was arrested on May 5, 2023.

By PD Raj – Senior Reporter DESIBUZZCanada

SURREY – An Indo-Canadian man has been finally charged with a 2023 sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl which happened at or near a Sikh temple in Surrey.

Surrey RCMP said this week that the man initially arrested last year has now been charged in connection with a sexual assault investigation which began in May 2023.

Fifty-nine-year-old Ajastar Singh was charged on July 2, 2024 with sexual assault and sexual interference of a person under the age of 16 years.

On May 4, 2023, Surrey RCMP received a report that a 15-year-old female youth had been sexually assaulted at or in the area of the Gurudwara Dukh Nivaran located in the 15200-block of 68 Avenue.

Surrey RCMP Special Victims Unit conducted the investigation and identified Singh as a suspect, who was arrested on May 5, 2023.

Singh, who was 58-year-old at the time, was released on conditions, including no contact with the victim and not to be in the presence of anyone under the age of 16-year-old without another adult present.

Police said at the time the suspect was an employee at Gurudwara Dukh Nivaran, and the employer was advised of the allegations and the conditions of his release. It is believed the temple, located at 152 and 66 Avenue, did remove the suspect from his duties at the temple. 

Police at the time sought witnesses with additional information, including those who may have been at the Gurudwara Dukh Nivaran on May 4, 2023 between 6:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. and asked them to contact police and quote file number 2023-69537.

“Our Special Victims Unit are leading this investigation, with support for the youth victim from Surrey Women’s Centre,” Cpl. Sarbjit K. Sangha Media Relation Officer of Surrey RCMP said at the time. “We urge anyone with information to come forward, as investigators continue to work to gather evidence and advance the investigation.”

However it took over a year for charges to be laid.

On July 2, 59-year-old Ajastar Singh was charged with the following:

*Sexual assault

*Sexual interference of a person under the age of 16 years

Singh was arrested on July 4 for the two offences and appeared in court. He was released pending a future court date with multiple conditions, some of which include:

*no contact with children under the age of 16;

*not attending at public areas where children under the age of 16 would likely be present;

*and not engaging in employment or volunteer work that involves working with children under the age of 16.

Police said as the matter is before the court, no further information will be provided.