A Toronto man, who founded a human rights organization, has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman sexually five times and forcibly confining her, reports CBC news.
Jose Mario Guilombo, 64, has been charged with five counts of sexual assault and two counts of forcible confinement, Toronto police said in a news release.
He was arrested and charged on March 9, police say.
Guilombo is the founder of Canadian Human Rights International Organization (CHRIO), a non-profit organization that says it monitors human rights abuses.
Constable Victor Kwong, a spokesperson for the police, told CBC News the suspect often goes by Mario Guilombo and is well known at the organization.
Kwong said a woman visited the organization's office at 1275 Finch Avenue W four times between February 25 and March 1 for immigration consulting services. Police said in the release that the alleged sexual assaults occurred during the meetings.
"The allegations are that she was sexually assaulted and forcibly confined," Kwong said.
CBC News phoned CHRIO for comment on the allegations. A person who answered the phone at the organization's office declined to comment, saying these are only allegations.
Guilombo was scheduled to appear at Toronto West Court at 1000 Finch Avenue W on March 9.
Police said in the release that they believe there may be more victims.
According to his Facebook profile, Guilombo has received numerous awards and recognition for his human rights work and for helping with immigration settlement.
On its website, CHRIO is described as “a non-profit organization working in the field of human right issues founded in 2003 in Toronto, Ont., Canada, and was born out of necessity to support hundreds of victims of armed conflict, in support of refugees, displaced persons, and their relatives that were unable to leave their countries of origin.”
CHRIO's stated mission is “to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in need.”
Award to Khaleda
The rights group conferred BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia with the “Mother of Democracy” award last year for what it described as “her outstanding contributions to democracy.”
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir presented the crest and certificates given by the Canadian organization on February 9, 2022.
