A Tillsonburg, Ont., veterinarian arrested earlier this month now faces a broader set of sexual assault charges after three more people told Ontario Provincial Police they were victimized. The 38-year-old, identified in court reporting as Muhammad Haris Aziz, was charged Friday with four additional sexual assault counts and one count of sexual exploitation, according to police statements reported by CTV News.
How did the case grow?
The first round of charges came on Oct. 7, when police laid nine sexual assault counts involving two complainants. Friday's update added three more complainants and five more counts, bringing the total to 14 sex-related charges, according to the Simcoe Reformer. Police say Aziz worked as a veterinarian in Oxford County and in North Bay. He remains in custody awaiting a bail hearing.
Why is so little being released?
A court-ordered publication ban limits what police and prosecutors can say, and the OPP has said no further details will be released. Investigators are asking anyone who believes they had a similar experience to call 1-888-310-1122, and victim support is available at 519-537-2824.
What does a dangerous-offender label mean?
The expanded case lands in the same week a Tillsonburg man was designated a dangerous offender, a rare classification that allows an indefinite prison term rather than a fixed sentence. Craig Vannatter, 39, was sentenced for abducting and confining a five-year-old girl at the Tillsonburg Community Centre in 2009, according to the Ontario Chronicle. Superior Court Justice Kelly Gorman, in a 42-page ruling, found he showed "a pattern of repetitive predatory sexual behaviour" and would pose a significant risk once a 10-year supervision order expired. Assistant Crown Gary Nikota called the application "a tragic necessity."
FAQ
What is a publication ban?
It is a court order barring the media and officials from reporting specified details, often to protect complainants or the fairness of a trial.
What happens next in the veterinarian's case?
Aziz stays in custody until a bail hearing; the investigation remains open and police are still taking calls from potential complainants.
