B.C. medical spa owner released on bail pending appeal of his 11-year sexual assault sentence

The B.C. Court of Appeal has granted interim release to a medical aesthetics spa owner convicted of seven counts of sexual assault, pending the hearing of his appeal.

Justice Susan Griffin heard the bail application from the convicted man requesting that he be released under 24-hour house arrest with electronic monitoring. In her Nov. 28 decision , she noted that Farshad Khojsteh Kashani complied with bail conditions prior to trial, as well as the Crown’s agreement that he does not pose a current safety risk to the public. Further, she was satisfied he would not flee, despite ties to Iran.

Kashani, 51, was born in Iran. He studied medicine in Iran and worked as a general practitioner there for about four years, according to the court decision. Then, around age 37, in 2011, he came to Canada with his wife and became a Canadian citizen in 2017.

He failed to meet the English language proficiency required to practice medicine in B.C., and instead trained in aesthetics procedures and opened a medical aesthetics spa, which he operated between 2017 and 2022.

However, in May 2019, one of his clients reported to the police that he had sexually assaulted her during a procedure. Two years later, another client made a similar report. Following a news release issued by the police and subsequent media coverage, five other complainants came forward with similar allegations. Kashani was subsequently charged with seven counts of sexual assault.

In April 2025, he was found guilty of all seven counts of sexual assault and sentenced to 11 years imprisonment.

“The offences were highly invasive,” wrote Justice Griffin in her decision. “In some cases, the offences involved: vaginal penetration using a medical instrument, which the appellant thrusted aggressively to varying degrees; digital penetration; touching of the vulva and/or clitoral area; and the infliction of physical pain.”

Further she wrote: “There were hallmarks of planning, as four of the complainants went to the clinic initially for other treatments and the appellant encouraged them towards this procedure.”

It should be noted that a publication ban has been imposed by the court restricting the publication of any evidence that would identify a complainant or witness.

Justice Griffin noted that the sentencing judge said Kashani had no prior criminal record, had generally led a productive life, and was at a low risk of reoffending. “However, given the gravity of the offences, the sentencing judge found that the objectives of denunciation and deterrence were paramount and necessitated a substantial penitentiary term.”

Turning to the bail application, Griffin focused on submissions from Kashani and his wife that “they are both prepared to surrender all passports, Canadian and Iranian, and expired passports. The appellant’s wife says that while one can apply online for an Iranian passport, an original birth certificate is necessary to complete the process. The appellant is also willing to surrender his birth certificate.”

Kashani also proposed bail terms aimed at mitigating concern that he might flee, including 24‑hour house arrest and submission to electronic monitoring. As further reassurance, Justice Griffin noted that Kashani’s wife submitted that she is willing to act as surety, provide a cash deposit of $150,000, and also provide the security of their condominium residence located in Coquitlam.

“Weighing all of this, I am satisfied that the risk of the appellant fleeing the jurisdiction can be mitigated by the additional measures proposed by the appellant. I am satisfied that he has established that he will surrender himself (for the appeal hearing) … I am not persuaded that detention is in the public interest.”

Finally, she ordered Kashani to surrender himself in mid-April or on the date when the appeal is finally set down to be heard.

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