Man who ‘pinched and licked’ massage patient has B.C. registration cancelled

FILE: A massage table is seen in an undated image from Shutterstock.

Warning: This story contains disturbing details.

A massage therapist from B.C.’s Lower Mainland who was found guilty of sexually assaulting a patient has had his professional registration cancelled—and been banned from reinstatement for eight years.

The College of Complementary Health Professionals of B.C. previously said Raja Ramaswamy had “pinched and licked” a woman’s nipple without her consent while giving her a massage in April 2021.

He was criminally convicted in October 2023 and given a 12-month conditional sentence, according to court records. He was also put on the sex offender registry for 10 years.

The CCHPBC cancelled Ramaswamy’s registration three weeks ago after concluding its own investigation, accepting the verdict of his trial as “binding and conclusive” for its purposes.

The professional regulator also fined Ramaswamy $5,000 and ordered him to pay $10,000 in costs.

According to a decision from the CCHPBC’s discipline committee, the victim had been a student of Ramaswamy’s at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy, and that they reconnected on Facebook years later.

The sexual assault occurred after Ramaswamy visited the woman’s apartment and gave her a massage.

Ramaswamy denied sexually assaulting his former student, but the trial judge found his evidence was “inconsistent” and in some cases did not “make sense,” according to an excerpt of the decision quoted by the committee.

Ramaswamy had already surrendered his licence before the CCHPBC handed down its disciplinary decision.

In a public notice, the regulator said its committee determined it would “frustrate the purpose of the Health Professions Act if a respondent were permitted to evade disciplinary sanction merely by pre-emptively failing to renew or voluntarily relinquishing registration.”

Ramaswamy must complete a course on ethics and professionalism before he’s able to apply for reinstatement in eight years, and will be subject to an eligibility evaluation, the CCHPBC said.

If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety.
• The Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres' website has a comprehensive list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling.
• The Ending Violence Association of Canada‘s website has links to helplines, support services and locations across Canada that offer sexual assault kits.
• Indian Residential School Survivors Society crisis lines: [phone] or [phone] (24/7)
• Toronto Rape Crisis Centre crisis line: [phone] (24/7)
• Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: [phone] (24/7)
• Trans Lifeline: [phone]
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988 (24/7)
• Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre for current and former Canadian Armed Forces members: [phone]
• Read about your rights as a victim on the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime website.