JULY 30 UPDATE: The person was identified last Saturday (July 27) and spoken to by investigators.

ON Saturday, July 20 at 3:15 a.m., Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a stranger sexual assault in the 14100-block of 91 Avenue in Newton’s Bear Creek area. The victim reported that she was woken up by a man groping her in her residence. The victim screamed for help and the suspect fled.

In order to advance the investigation, Surrey RCMP on Thursday released a video of a person of interest. The person of interest is described as a South Asian man in his early 20s, 5’7 to 5’10 tall, average build, with a dark moustache and medium length beard, wearing an orange turban, long dark coloured shorts with a white stripe down the side, a dark blue t-shirt and flip flops. This individual may go by the name Akash.

“Surrey RCMP Special Victims Unit has a dedicated team of investigators actively canvassing in the neighbourhood to identify this man,” said Sgt. Tammy Lobb, Surrey RCMP Media Relations Officer. “We are asking the public to contact police if they recognize this individual or they are familiar with a man matching this description who may go by the name Akash.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 and quote file number 2024-106141.