Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach arrested for rape and sexual assault

Frank Stronach is the founder of the Canadian company Magna International

New Delhi:

Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach was arrested on Friday on charges of rape and sexual assault, police said. The 91-year-old businessman was arrested in the upscale Toronto suburb of Aurora.

An official statement from Peel Regional Police said the alleged sexual assaults spanned the period from the 1980s to 2023.

“Frank Stronach was arrested and charged with five felony counts, including rape, sexual assault of a woman, sexual battery and false imprisonment,” police said.

They also appealed to the public to come forward if they have any relevant information.

Stronach, the founder of Canadian auto parts maker Magna International, was released on bail and will appear at a later date in Ontario Court Justice in Brampton, police said.

However, his lawyer stated that he “categorically rejects” all allegations made against him.

“He looks forward to the opportunity to fully address the allegations and to uphold his legacy as a philanthropist and icon of Canadian business,” Brian Greenspan, Stronach’s lawyer, was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Magna stated that it had no knowledge of the investigation or the allegations beyond media coverage.

“Stronach has had no connection with Magna since he gave up control in 2010,” Reuters quoted the company as saying.