A Toronto religious leader who police say has travelled the world has
been charged with 13 sex offences, and investigators believe there may
be more victims, both here and abroad.
Mohammad Masroor, 48, is the imam at
the Baitul Mukaram Islamic Society on 3334 Danforth Ave. He has been
teaching there since he came to Canada in 2008.
Masroor was arrested Aug. 10 and
charged with 13 sex-related offences allegedly committed against five
victims. The assaults allegedly occurred between Nov. 1, 2008 and July
28, 2011.
“The victims are both male and
female,” Det. Const. Karen Armstrong said. “We believe there are other
victims as (the accused) has lived and worked worldwide.”
Armstrong said police have been in
touch with other victims and the investigation, which began three weeks
ago, is “progressing.”
She said the accused “is known to the
victims, but I can’t go into more detail than that. I don’t want to
jeopardize the safety of the victims in any way.”
Masroor teaches in the mosque as well as in private homes.
Police say that before coming to
Canada, Masroor was teaching in Florida, Michigan and Bangladesh. He has
also lived and taught in Germany, France, Hungary, Singapore, and Sri
Lanka. However, “our investigation is not limited to these locations,”
Armstrong said.
Armstrong said the accused “was seen as a leader in the community and he used that to his advantage.”
Abdul Fattah Aboud, who used to work as an assistant imam at the same mosque as Masroor, said he was shocked at the charges.
"Is it possible? Someone like him?" he told the Star. "He's a very well respected person in the community."
Mir Mofazzal, who works as a
caretaker at the mosque, has had dinner at Masroor's home. He said
Masroor is married with two daughters and three sons.
"He's a very pious man," he said.
Police said Masroor is being held in custody, and that a publication ban is in place.
Toronto investigators have yet to speak with foreign police forces about the case, Armstrong said.
With files from Chloé Fedio
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