A self-styled sheikh who sent offensive letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman during ''spiritual healing'' sessions in western Sydney.
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Man Haron Monis, 49, was arrested by sex crimes squad detectives on Monday morning and charged with the indecent and sexual assault of a woman in western Sydney in 2002.
Police allege that Monis, pictured, who also goes by the name Mohammad Hassan Manteghi, was a self-proclaimed ''spiritual healer'' who operated out of a premises on Station Street at Wentworthville.
His alleged victim, who was 27 at the time, allegedly saw an advertisement for ''Spiritual Consultation'' in a local newspaper and contacted Monis. He told her he was an expert in astrology, numerology, meditation and black magic and advised her to visit his clinic.
The woman visited the clinic twice within a week. On the first occasion it will be alleged that Monis indecently assaulted her. A week later he is alleged to have indecently and sexually assaulted her. ''The assaults are alleged to have been undertaken under the guise of a spiritual healing technique, and the man warned the woman not to tell anyone about them,'' police said in a statement.
The woman reported the incident to police in January this year, with Strike Force Yorkfield established to investigate the allegations. It culminated in the arrest of Monis at Bexley North on Monday morning. He was charged and appeared in Kogarah Local Court on Monday afternoon where he was refused bail.
The court was told that Monis is on bail after being charged in November with being an accessory before and after the fact to the murder of his ex-wife and mother-of-two Noleen Hayson Pal.
Detective Inspector Mick Haddow said police believe Monis ran his spiritual healing clinic at the site between 2000 and 2002 and would not rule out the possibility there would be other victims.
