Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach has been found guilty of sexual assault and indecent assault by an Ontario judge. The verdicts, delivered today in Toronto, stem from allegations made by two women concerning incidents that occurred between the late 1970s and 1990. Stronach, 93, had pleaded not guilty to 12 charges involving seven complainants at the start of the trial.
Justice Anne Molloy found Stronach guilty of sexual assault concerning a former employee who met him for dinner and later visited his condo in the early 1980s. He was also found guilty of indecent assault related to a woman who frequented Rooney's, a Toronto restaurant Stronach used to own, in the 1970s. The judge dismissed charges related to a third complainant, deeming the evidence unreliable.
The charges are part of a larger case where Stronach, founder of auto parts giant Magna International, initially faced 18 offences involving 13 complainants, which were split into two trials. He is scheduled to face another trial in Newmarket, Ontario, next year concerning additional charges. A sentencing hearing for the current convictions has been scheduled for September.
This ruling comes after a trial that began in February, during which several charges were withdrawn by the prosecution or dismissed by the judge. The allegations against Stronach span several decades, and the case has garnered significant public attention due to Stronach's prominent business career.
