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A University of Manitoba professor has been arrested in connection with a historic sexual assault investigation, Winnipeg police say.
Oleg Pokhanovski, 55, turned himself in to police on July 29 after being charged with sexual exploitation and sexual assault for a series of incidents between December 2007 and March 2010.
Pokhanovski, who was in his 30s at the time of the incidents, is accused of grooming a 15-year-old student he was providing private music lessons to at the university.
Sexual assaults allegedly occurred off-campus, and police allege the professor continued trying to contact the girl via email after she attempted to end the situation.
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The girl, now an adult, reported the incidents to police after moving from Winnipeg.
Pokhanovski is an acclaimed violinist who has won international awards, as well as a pianist and arranger, and a professor at the U of M’s Desautels Faculty of Music.
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In a statement Friday, a university spokesperson said the school is aware of the charges.
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“We take this matter very seriously and are cooperating fully with the Winnipeg Police Service. The accused has been placed on leave,” the statement said.
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