B.C. volleyball coach charged with multiple sex offences against youths

Police said they received a tip on Dec. 22, 2024, alleging a youth had been assaulted by the coach.

A volleyball coach in North Vancouver, B.C., has been charged with 10 sexual offences, including five counts of sexual assault, following allegations from players spanning nearly a decade.

The RCMP announced Thursday that Iraj Mozaffari of North Vancouver was also charged with three counts of sexual interference of a person under 16 and two counts of touching a young person for a sexual purpose.

The charges stem from complaints dating from January 2016 to December 2024, police said.

In April of last year, the North Vancouver RCMP said a 50-year-old man had been arrested as part of a “complex investigation involving allegations of sexual assaults that occurred over a period of several years.”

At the time, the suspect was released on conditions pending charge approval, and investigators appealed for additional victims and witnesses to come forward.

The investigation began after police received “multiple reports” on Dec. 22, 2024, alleging that youths on a volleyball team were sexually assaulted by the coach, police said.

Investigators spoke with several witnesses and complainants before submitting a report to Crown prosecutors recommending charges.

“We understand that this news may be upsetting for members of the community and especially for the victims,” Cpl. Mansoor Sahak said in a statement Thursday.

“We would like to thank those that came forward to provide statements. Without their courage, we would not be in the position we are in today.”

The identities of the complainants are protected by a court-ordered publication ban.

The charges have not been proven or tested in court.