Billionaire Frank Stronach faces sexual assault trial in Canada

Austro-Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach is facing a sexual assault trial this week in Toronto that will be decided solely by a judge.

Stronach, the 93 year-old founder of an international automotive parts company and one of Canada's richest men, has been charged in relation to more than a dozen historical sexual assault allegations that span nearly a half-century.

Prosecutors have split his case into two separate proceedings, with the Toronto trial set to begin first on Tuesday. A second trial in nearby York Region is scheduled for the spring.

Stronach has pleaded not guilty to the 12 Toronto charges, and has denied all of the allegations against him.

He faces a total of 18 offences involving 13 complainants, according to prosecutors.

Numerous Canadian media outlets reported on the sexual assault allegations against the billionaire.

In 2024 CBC investigation, former employees alleged that Stronach had raped or sexually assaulted them. Stronach denied the accusations in an interview with the Canadian public broadcaster.

"My friends know me, and a lot of people which worked for me, they know who I am," he said. "That's totally against what I stand for."

The BBC has reached out to Stronach's lawyer for comment.

Superior Court Justice Anne Malloy, who is presiding over the Toronto case, is expected to hear evidence from the Crown as well as the testimonies of complainants in court.

The case is unique as Stronach is facing charges that are no longer in Canada's Criminal Code, due to the historic nature of the allegations, which date from 1977 to 1990. Judge Malloy will have to rule on whether the accused is guilty based on the old definition of the charges.

There is no statute of limitations for prosecuting sexual assault in Canada.

The renowned billionaire busiessman was born in Austria and founded what later became his company Magna International in 1956.

He is also known for his brief stint in Austrian politics, where he founded the now-defunct right-wing populist party Team Stronach in 2012.