Two men have been arrested by Metro Vancouver Transit Police for separate sexual assaults that happened on the bus and SkyTrain this month.
The first incident happened on March 2 at 8 a.m. when a passenger witnessed the sexual assault of another passenger on the #33 bus, which was travelling from 29th Avenue SkyTrain Station to UBC. The witness notified the bus driver, who called Transit Police.
After interviewing both the victim and witness, Transit Police found that the same suspect had sexually assaulted the witness by groping her leg and thigh, three to four weeks earlier on the same route.
Police arrested the suspect on March 17 after being tipped off to his location by the witness of the March 2 sexual assault.
The 57-year-old male suspect was later released on the conditions of appearing in Vancouver Provincial Court on April 29 and he cannot be found on any Coast Mountain bus, SeaBus, SkyTrain or Canada Line train.
The victim of the assault is an ESL student from Japan, who will be heading home and according to Transit Police, has no intentions of returning to Vancouver. Due to the victim leaving for Japan, Crown Counsel will not be pursuing the charges related to her assault.
But the earlier assault on the witness is being pursued by Crown Counsel and is currently pending.
The second incident, involving a different male suspect happened on March 20 just after 8 a.m. and involved a woman on the SkyTrain at the Marine Drive Station. The woman told Transit Police when she felt her buttocks being cupped from behind, she yelled at the suspect to get away from her and get off the train, which he did.
The victim reported the assault to Transit Police at the next stop and he was identified as a repeat sexual offender on the transit system.
Joseph Wai Hung Lui, was arrested by Transit Police at his home in Vancouver. Lui is 43-years-old and Transit Police said he is a prolific offender “with an extensive history with Transit Police.”
Lui has appeared in court and released with conditions that include him not being on any SkyTrain services, and if travelling by bus, must be within 10 feet of the bus driver.
His next court appearance is April 14.
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