5th suspect charged in frying-pan attack on woman who was later abducted in Wasaga Beach
Posted March 7, 2023 4:12 pm.
Last Updated March 7, 2023 4:31 pm.
York Regional Police have charged a fifth suspect in a frying-pan attack on a woman who was later abducted from a home in Wasaga Beach and remains missing.
Akash Rana, 25, of British Columbia, is charged with aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence in connection to a Dec. 20, 2021, attack on Elnaz Hajtamiri, 37, at an underground garage in Richmond Hill.
Officers were called to an address on King Wiliam Crescent, in the Yonge Street and Bantry Avenue area, after Hajtamiri was attacked and stuck with a frying pan by a group of men, one allegedly her ex-boyfriend.
She was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and police launched an investigation. Rana is the fifth person now charged in connection to the attack.
Investigators say he was arrested on March 1, 2023, and remains in custody ahead of a court appearance on March 9.
RELATED: OPP release suspect photos in case of woman abducted in Wasaga Beach
On Jan. 12, 2022, at around 8:30 p.m., less than a month after the frying-pan attack, police say Hajtamiri was abducted from a residence in Wasaga Beach by three suspects dressed in police costumes.
She remains missing, and a $100,000 reward for information about her whereabouts has been offered.
Police believe the suspects arrived at the Wasaga Beach home to “arrest” the victim.
The homeowner answered the door and grew suspicious, but the three individuals overpowered them and subsequently abducted Hajtamiri. They then fled the scene with the victim in a white 2016-2022 Lexus RX SUV. Her sister said she was staying at a relative’s home after police told her to find a temporary safe place when alleged threats from her ex-boyfriend became more serious.
Last February, the OPP released photos of the trio of suspects believed to be involved in Hajtamiri’s abduction. Police believe the suspects, two men and a woman, are GTA residents.
Meanwhile, the search for Hajtamiri continues.
She’s described as five feet four inches tall with a slim build, shoulder-length brown hair, and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a dark knitted sweater, black tights/leggings and light-coloured socks.
The incident has led to pleas from the victim’s family for more information. Her mother, Fariba Hajtamiri, has said the family is “living a desperate life” in an attempt to find a resolution to the disappearance.
Police say Elnaz Hajtamiri, 37, was taken from a home in Wasaga Beach on Jan. 12, 2022. Photo courtesy: OPP.
With files from Michael Ranger
