Former CBC radio host charged with four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcome resistance by choking

Jain Ghomeshi in Vancouver in 2009. Photo: Penmachine CC BY-SA 3.0

Toronto Police have charged former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi, 47, with four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcome resistance by choking.

Ghomeshi was granted bail on a $100,000 surety. The judge ordered him to not contact any of the women he allegedly assaulted, required him to live with his mother, banned him from leaving Ontario, and made him surrender his passport.

The Toronto Police’s sex crimes unit has investigated several allegations of sexual assault by Ghomeshi since Oct. 31.

Ghomeshi surrendered to police on Wednesday, according to a press release by Toronto Police.

Nine women and one man have come forward to the Toronto Star and other media claiming that Ghomeshi sexually assaulted them, hit, or harassed them.

On Tuesday, Ghomeshi dropped a $55 million lawsuit against the CBC for breach of confidence saying he will use the grievance procedure in the collective agreement. He must pay the CBC’s legal costs.