TORONTO – Frank Stronach, an Austrian-Canadian auto parts millionaire, was detained on sexual assault charges dating back decades, authorities said.
Peel Regional Police accused the 91-year-old on Friday with five charges, including rape, indecent assault on a female, sexual assault, and forcible imprisonment. He was released on conditions and will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton, Ontario, at a later date, according to the police statement.
Peel Regional Police Constable Tyler Bell said there is more than one accuser but did not specify how many.
Police Arrest 91-Year-Old Canadian Auto Parts Billionaire Frank Stronach On Sexual Assault Charges
“Clearly, this is a high-profile case. Our special victims team is responsible for protecting the victims, which is why we are being vague,” Bell explained. “There is more than one victim but we won’t confirm that number yet.”
Police allege that the sexual assaults occurred between the 1980s and 2023. Bell said they’re encouraging people to come forward if they have information or have been victims.
Stronach did not immediately return a request for comment.
He’s hired Brian Greenspan, a well-known Canadian defense lawyer.
“Mr. Stronach categorically denies the allegations of impropriety that have been leveled against him,” Greenspan wrote in an email. “He looks forward to the opportunity to fully respond to the charges and to maintain his legacy both as a philanthropist and as an icon of the Canadian business community.”
Born in Austria, Stronach became one of Canada’s wealthiest people by founding Magna in his garage in 1957 and growing it into one of the world’s largest auto parts suppliers.
He also formed The Stronach Group, which specializes in horse racing. He briefly entered Austrian politics over a decade ago and has been appointed to the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest awards.
Frank Stronach | AP News imagePolice Arrest 91-Year-Old Canadian Auto Parts Billionaire Frank Stronach On Sexual Assault Charges
“We were recently made aware of the charges filed against Frank Stronach,” Dave Niemiec wrote in an email Friday evening. “Magna has no knowledge of the investigation or the allegations that have been raised beyond what has been reported in the media.”
Niemiec stated that the corporation will not comment further on the ongoing legal situation.
Stronach sued his daughter, two grandsons, and longtime business associate Alon Ossip for more than $500 million in Ontario Superior Court in 2018, alleging that they squandered the family’s assets, which he sought to reclaim.
Police Arrest 91-Year-Old Canadian Auto Parts Billionaire Frank Stronach On Sexual Assault Charges
Belinda Stronach, a former Canadian Member of Parliament, countersued her father, claiming in a statement of defense that he lost a lot of money on pet projects.
The case was eventually settled.
SOURCE – (AP)
