Faruk Dewan is a 63-year-old Pickering, Ontario, art instructor who was arrested in August 2026 after Durham Regional Police accused him of repeatedly sexually assaulting two female children. Police say Dewan knew both victims’ families and allegedly touched the girls inappropriately during visits to their respective homes in Pickering and Toronto between November 2025 and July 2026. He faces 22 criminal charges: 11 counts of sexual assault and 11 counts of sexual interference with a person under 16. Police say Dewan also provides art lessons from a residence in Pickering and are investigating whether there may be additional victims.
Faruk Dewan Arrest
Dewan Was Arrested In Ajax In August 2026. Durham Regional Police said officers located the 63-year-old in Ajax and took him into custody without incident following an investigation by the force’s Special Victims Unit. [Durham Police] [CityNews]
Dewan Was Held For A Bail Hearing. Police said he remained in custody pending a hearing after his arrest. No later bail ruling had been publicly reported as of September 1, 2026. [Durham Police] [Global News]
22 Sexual Abuse Charges
Dewan Faces 11 Counts Of Sexual Assault. Durham police announced the charges on September 1 following the investigation involving the two children. [Durham Police]
He Also Faces 11 Counts Of Sexual Interference With A Person Under 16. The combined charges bring the total number of criminal counts to 22. [Durham Police] [TorontoToday]
Allegations Involving Two Girls
Police Say The Case Involves Two Female Children. Investigators have not publicly released the girls’ names or exact ages. [Durham Police]
Dewan Was Known To Both Victims’ Families. Police said the alleged assaults occurred after Dewan attended the two families’ homes. [Durham Police] [Durham Radio News]
Police Allege Dewan Inappropriately Touched The Children. Investigators said the alleged conduct occurred during visits to the victims’ respective residences in Pickering and Toronto. [Durham Police]
Alleged Abuse Over Eight Months
Police Say The Alleged Sexual Assaults Began In November 2025. Investigators determined that the alleged conduct continued for months before authorities were contacted. [Durham Police]
The Alleged Abuse Continued Through July 2026. Police say the girls were sexually assaulted on numerous occasions during the approximately eight-month period. [CityNews] [Global News]
Special Victims Unit Investigation
The Durham Police Special Victims Unit Began Investigating In July 2026. The investigation was opened after police received a report that a man had sexually assaulted two children. [Durham Police]
Police Described The Investigation As Extensive. Investigators ultimately connected the alleged incidents to a period spanning November 2025 through July 2026 before Dewan was arrested in Ajax. [Durham Police]
Faruk Dewan Art Lessons
Dewan Provides Art Lessons From A Residence In Pickering. Durham police specifically disclosed his work as an art instructor while announcing the charges. [Durham Police] [Global News]
Current Reporting Does Not Identify Dewan As A School Employee. Police and news coverage describe him as an art instructor providing lessons from a private residence rather than as a teacher employed by a public or private school. [Durham Police] [TorontoToday]
Police Investigate Possible Additional Victims
Durham Police Believe There May Be Other Victims. Investigators publicly released Dewan’s name and photograph because of concerns that other children may have had contact with him through his art lessons or other connections. [Durham Police] [Quinte News]
Police Are Asking Anyone With Information To Contact The Special Victims Unit. Detective Constable Gomez is handling information connected to the investigation. [Durham Police]
Case Status
Dewan Faces 22 Pending Criminal Charges. As of September 1, 2026, the publicly announced case consists of 11 sexual assault counts and 11 sexual interference counts. [Durham Police]
He Was Held For A Bail Hearing Following His Arrest. No guilty plea, trial, conviction, dismissal or sentencing has yet been publicly reported. [Global News]
The Investigation Remains Active. Durham police continue to seek information concerning possible additional victims. [Durham Police]
The Charges Have Not Been Proven In Court. Dewan remains accused rather than convicted while the Ontario criminal case proceeds. [Durham Police]
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One of the first political bloggers in the world, Oliver Willis has operated OliverWillis.com since 2000. Contributor at Media Matters for America and The American Independent. Follow on Twitter at @owillis. Full bio.