Mukesh Yasarapu charged after 2 sexual assaults on Vancouver buses

MukeshYasarapu, 27, of Vancouver, has been charged after allegedlysexually assaulting two women on buses leaving the Phibbs Bus Exchange in North Vancouver.

Thefirst incident took place on April 5 at 7:45 a.m. PT,when thesuspect allegedly sat next to a Japanese exchange student on a bus headed to downtown Vancouver, according to transit police.

For 10 minutes, he allegedlytouched her inappropriately, trying to put her hand between his legs and kiss her. Police saythe woman tried to stop him, buthe persisted until he got off the bus atMain and Hastings streets.

A week later onApril 12at 7:48a.m. PT,the suspectallegedly spent 10 minutes inappropriately touching another woman on a bus leaving PhibbsBus Exchangefor downtown Vancouver.Police say the womantried to move away from him, but againhe persisted until he got off the bus at the intersection of Hastings and Pender streets.

In both cases, he allegedly sat next to the women even though the buses were not full.

Yasarapu was arrested one week lateron April 19 at 7:45 a.m.,at thePhibbsBus Exchange. He has now been releasedon conditionthat he does not leave B.C. or sit or standnext to a woman on transit.

He is scheduled to appear in Vancouver provincial court on Wednesday.