Former Canadian radio host Jian Ghomeshi was arrested on Wednesday and charged with multiple accounts of sexual assault and choking.
The 47-year-old personality was charged with four counts of sexual assault and one count of “overcome resistance – choking,” after turning himself into the authorities. Ghomeshi was released later in the day on $100,000 (Canadian) bail, according to the Toronto Star, and appeared in court shortly after noon ET on Wednesday.
The charges come after nine women and one man came forward alleging that Ghomeshi had sexually assaulted, hit or choked them.
The CBC fired the on air personality on Oct. 26 before any formal charges were made. He had hosted the station’s “Q” radio show since 2007.
Ghomeshi went on to file a $55 million retaliatory suit against the CBC after his departure. On Tuesday, the Toronto Star reported that he had dropped the lawsuit and had also been ordered to pay the radio station’s legal bills, which amounted to $18,000.
Toronto Police Department’s sex crimes unit began its investigation of Ghomeshi on Oct. 31. At that time only three women had come forward with allegations, including “Trailer Park Boys” actress Lucy DeCoutere.
Ghomeshi is being represented by a Marie Henein, a high-profile Canadian criminal defense attorney.
In a statement to the media, she said her client will plead not guilty to the sexual assault charges. “We will defend and respond to these allegations fully and directly in a court of law,” said Henein.