A MASSEUR charged with indecently assaulting 14 patients has pleaded not guilty.
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Xiawen Shen, 45, entered the pleas on 14 counts of indecent assault in Albury Local Court on Tuesday.
The Royal Hands Chinese Massage worker appeared before magistrate Tony Murray and will return to the court on March 14.
Shen was first charged in January after allegedly rubbing a customer’s genitals during a massage at the West End Plaza business.
Another 13 alleged victims came forward after he was charged.
Albury officers laid a further 13 charges against Shen last week, all of which are alleged to have occurred in Albury last year.
It’s an unregulated industry ... there’s absolutely no requirements for them to have any professional or tertiary training
- Massage and Myotherapy Australia chief executive Tricia Hughes, speaking recently about massage businesses
Included in the charges are allegations Shen rubbed a woman’s genitals, massaged her breasts and climbed on top of her, using his body weight to held her down.
He allegedly thrust his pelvis and penis repeatedly into another woman’s buttocks.
Other women allege the North Albury man, who requires a Chinese interpreter, thrust his penis onto their heads or arms, with further allegations of genitals and breasts being rubbed.
The earliest offence is alleged to have occurred at some stage between February 1 and 29, while the most recent allegedly occurred on January 7.
Shen is banned from working or giving any massages as part of his bail conditions but the business has continued to operate.
After the first charge was laid, Massage and Myotherapy Australia chief executive Tricia Hughes said the organisation was receiving more complaints of such behaviour.
“It’s an unregulated industry,” she said.
“It’s only self-regulated by professional associations and there are no requirements by law for a therapist to be registered with any professional associations.
“A lot of therapists come in on (temporary work) visas to train and then leave.
“There’s absolutely no requirements for them to have any professional or tertiary training.”
Albury police are continuing to investigate the matter and have urged alleged victims to contact them.