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A Calgary man has been charged with sexual assault following an investigation into an incident that occurred more than a year ago.
On Jan. 14, 2023, the victim was at Cowboys Dance Hall in Calgary and is believed to have met a man she didn’t know, Calgary police said in a statement issued Wednesday.
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The man used a taxi to take the victim to a nearby hotel, where he allegedly rented a room and sexually assaulted her. The victim left the hotel and reported the incident to police.
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“We investigate all sexual offences that are reported to us and take several investigative steps to speak to witnesses, collect and process evidence, including DNA analysis, prior to laying charges,” said staff sergeant Tom Hanson of the Calgary police service sexual assault investigative unit.
“These types of crimes can be extremely personal and sensitive, and I want to thank the victim for coming forward to police and reporting this incident to us.”
The Calgary police have charged Ali Ayyaz Chatha, 34, with one count of sexual assault. He is due to appear in court on May 28.
Calgary police emphasize that sexual contact is never acceptable without clear consent. Consent must be given freely — this means agreeing to any form of touching or sexual activity and requires a conscious and capable mind. Consent can be revoked at any time, at which point the sexual act must stop.
There is no statute of limitations on sexual assault offences in Canada, and anyone who believes they are a victim of sexual assault is encouraged to report it, even if many years have passed since the incident.
Anyone with information about this incident or similar incidents is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234. Tips can be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477, at www.calgarycrimestoppers.org or using the P3 Tips mobile app.
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