Surrey Temple employee charged with alleged sexual assault of juvenile

Charges have been filed against a suspect in connection with an alleged sexual assault in Newton.

59-year-old Ajastar Singh is accused of sexual assault and sexual abuse of a person under the age of 16.

Singh appeared in Surrey Provincial Court and was released on several conditions pending his next appearance, including that he not have contact with children under 16, not be in any public place where children under 16 are likely to be present, and not engage in any work or volunteer activity that involves him interacting with children under 16.

“As the matter is before the courts, no further information will be provided,” said Sergeant James Mason of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Surrey.

The investigation began after the Surrey Mounties received a report on May 4, 2003, that a 15-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted “in or around” the Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sikh temple in the 15200 block of 68th Avenue.

Police said the suspect was employed by the temple and his employer had been informed of the charges against him and the conditions of his release.