International student arrested after posing as a rideshare driver for sexual assaults in Brampton

A man arrested for several violent sexual assaults in Brampton was living in the country under the student visa program.

Peel Regional Police say the man, a Brampton resident, was arrested in London, Ontario after an extensive manhunt following three assaults that took place earlier this month.

In each case a woman was approached while waiting at a bus stop by a man posing as a rideshare driver. Police said the man would offer a discount rate which would entice the women to accept the ride. In each case he would drive the victim to a remote area where the sexual assault would take.

In each case, the man would target young, South Asian women and speak to them in Punjabi, police said. They said the victims’ accounts helped lead investigators to the suspect.

The first attack took place on Nov. 8 around 7 a.m. when the victim was picked up near Countryside Road and Bramalea Road. Then, later that same morning at 8 a.m. another victim was approached at Goreridge Crescent and Via Romano.

In both of these incidents, the victims were taken to Clareville Conservation Area on Highway 50 where they were attacked.

The third assault happened on Nov. 16 after the victim accepted a ride from a man at Airport Road and Humberwest Parkway. She was taken to Countryside Drive and Airport Road where she was assaulted.

Officers say the investigation is ongoing to see if the suspect is linked to other crimes.

Police said the man came to Canada from India on a student visa in 2022 but they don’t know if he was attending any classes.

An update on the charges and the name of the person arrested is expected later today.

Charged is 22-year-old Arshdeep Singh.

He is charged with the following offences:

• sexual assault
• sexual assault with a weapon
• sexual assault by strangulation
• robbery
• three counts of kidnapping
• two counts of uttering threats