Man charged after alleged sex assaults at car lot

A Calgary man is facing several charges after being accused of sexually assaulting women he met while selling vehicles on online marketplaces.

Police say a woman used one such website to search for a new car and arrange a test drive on Aug. 29 last year. They say she met the seller at a used car lot at 733 41st Ave. N.E., where the man made numerous unwanted sexual advances, which she denied. She bought the car, but soon realized it wasn't running properly and attempted to return it.

She went back to the lot the next day to demand a refund and the man again made sexual advances, this time “physically forcing himself onto the victim,” police said.

On Oct. 27, another woman responded to an ad and went to view a vehicle at the same lot. The man again made unwanted advances, which were denied, and the vehicle again failed to operate properly.

Calgarian Sayad Arafath Ruzdiana, 40, is charged with two counts of sexual assault, one count of harassing communication and six offences under the Consumer Protection Act. Police say Ruzdiana also goes by the names Sam and

Michael.

“Situations like this are incredibly difficult experiences for victims. Not only are they sexually assaulted, but they are placed in a position where they are revictimized by needing to re-engage the perpetrator,” said Acting Insp. Vince Hancott of the Calgary Police Service.

Ruzdiana is expected to appear in court April 10.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police via the non-emergency line at 403-266-1234.