(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
A 48-year-old Winnipeg priest has been charged after the alleged sexual assault of an eight-year-old girl.
Manitoba RCMP say the alleged assault happened on May 27 at the local Roman Catholic church in Little Grand Rapids.
According to police, the girl was inappropriately touched by the man while at the church alone with the priest.
Arul Savari was arrested on charges of sexual assault, sexual interference, sexual exploitation of a young person, luring a child and forcible confinement. He remains in custody.
RCMP say Savari has also attended the community of Pauingassi First Nation in his role as priest.
“She … told our investigators that when she tried to leave, he forced her to remain in the building,” Supt. Scott McMurchy, acting criminal operations officer, told reporters Tuesday.
“Finally able to get free, she ran home and told her mother what happened.”
The investigation is in its early stages, McMurchy added, but officers have identified more young people as potential victims.
“Their information is being gathered as we speak.”
Anyone who has additional information or who may be a victim is asked to contact Little Grand Rapids RCMP at (204) 397-2249.
