Burnaby Spa Worker Found Guilty of Sexual Assault in B.C. Court

A man working at a Burnaby spa faces consequences after sexually assaulting seven clients during unlicensed procedures. A B.C. Supreme Court jury found Farshad Khojsteh Kashani guilty on seven counts of sexual assault.

He performed the procedures at Fab Skin Care, a business located on Kingsway in Burnaby.

Clients believed he was a doctor

Several women said they trusted Khojsteh Kashani because he acted like a medical professional. His biography claimed he had worked as a general practitioner in Iran for over five years. But the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. confirmed he never held a medical license in the province.

He moved to Canada in 2011 through the skilled worker immigration program. In 2017, he started working at the spa while trying to transfer his medical credentials.

Women came forward after initial charges

All seven women shared their stories in court. Three booked treatments through Groupon, while others had visited for cosmetic services before.

Police first charged Khojsteh Kashani in 2022 after two women filed complaints. After news of the charges broke, five more women came forward.

Prosecutors said Khojsteh Kashani used the private nature of the procedure to take advantage of vulnerable clients. His actions crossed the line into non-consensual sexual contact, under the guise of a medical procedure.

His lawyer claimed the allegations were “illogical” and argued that he wouldn’t risk his future or immigration status. But the jury didn’t accept that argument.

Fraser Health issued an STI warning

In 2022, Fraser Health released a public alert warning anyone treated at Fab Skin Care to get tested for sexually transmitted infections. Officials said the spa failed to meet infection control standards and operated without a licensed health professional.

“This business was not using appropriate infection control measures,” Fraser Health stated at the time.

Bail revoked after guilty verdict

After the guilty verdict, the court revoked his bail. He now remains in custody. A bail hearing will happen Friday in Vancouver. The court has not yet set a sentencing date.

More…

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/fab-skin-care-kingsway-burnaby-charges-sti-testing-1.7501333 
• https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7501333