TORONTO — Former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi has been granted bail just hours after being charged with multiple counts of sexual assault.
The 47-year-old turned himself in to police earlier today and was charged with four counts of sexual assault and one count of what police called "overcome resistance — choking."
He looked tired and sombre as he appeared in the prisoner's box of a packed Toronto courtroom wearing a dark suit with a light shirt and no tie.
His bail conditions include living with his mother, no contact with his alleged victims and an agreement to surrender his passport and remain in Ontario.
When asked by a judge if he understood the conditions of his release, Ghomeshi clasped his hands in front of him, nodded slightly and said "yes" and "I do."
Ghomeshi's mother was present in court and acted as his surety as a judge released him on $100,000 bail.
Ghomeshi's lawyer requested a publication ban on the bail hearing, which was granted, meaning the allegations and evidence details at the proceedings could not be reported.
The former "Q" radio host was fired by CBC on Oct. 26 after the public broadcaster said it had seen "graphic evidence'' that he had physically injured a woman.
Since his dismissal, nine women have come forward with allegations that Ghomeshi sexually or physically assaulted them — three of them filed police complaints.
Ghomeshi has admitted that he engaged in "rough sex" but insisted his encounters with women were consensual.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
