Jian Ghomeshi was formally charged with sexual assault on Wednesday in what is deemed the most scandalous case ever to hit the well-praised former Canadian radio broadcaster.
The 47-year-old writer and musician has been charged with one count of overcoming resistance by chocking and four counts of sexual assault, according to People.
In October, reports on sexual assault allegations against Ghomeshi surfaced, leading to Canadian Broadcasting Corp.'s decision to fire him from hosting famous radio show "Q," which is considered a big hit given that it is also heard in several U.S. radio stations.
CBC said at the time that they fired Ghomeshi because there was sufficient "graphic" evidence to prove that he had physically injured a person.
Back then, the former vocalist and drummer of folk-pop band Moxy Früvous, brushed off the allegations by insisting that he never sexually assaulted anyone, but admitted to having consensual "rough sex" with women.
The embattled radio broadcaster made his first public appearance on Wednesday after the sexual assault claims emerged when he attended the first court hearing on his case.
He was granted a bail of $100,000 provided that he is to turn over his passport and stay with his mother for the time being while his case is still on-going. He was also asked not to make any contact with his alleged victims, reports BBC.
He is set to return in court early next year, specifically on Jan. 8.
Additionally, the court has decided to give a publication ban on all detains concerning the sexual assault charges.
Marie Henein, Ghomeshi's lawyer told the press after the hearing that her client will be pleading not guilty to the charges while the famous Canadian personality refused to comment on the issue.
"We will address these allegations fully and directly in a courtroom. It is not my practice to litigate my cases in the media," Henein said.
It can be noted that when the allegations surfaced, Ghomeshi defended himself on Facebook, saying that all the women he had made intimate contact with consented to having "rough sex" with him.
He even described in the since deleted post that his sexual practices is "a mild form of 'Fifty Shades of Grey.'"
"Let me be the first to say that my tastes in the bedroom may not be palatable to some folks," he wrote, noting that he never did anything rough without his partners' consent, according to The New York Times. "They may be strange, enticing, weird, normal, or outright offensive to others."
In late October, at least nine women have come out to the authorities, alleging that they were sexually assaulted by Ghomeshi. Police have since urged other possible victims of the embattled 47-year-old to come forward as well.
The first woman to raise the issue was "Trailer Park Boys" star Lucy DeCoutere, who claimed that Ghomeshi pressed him up against a wall while chocking her and slapping her a couple of times on the face.
Author Reva Seth also alleged that the radio broadcaster chocked her throat while sexually assaulting her. However, it isn't clear whether Seth is one of the nine women who already filed their complaints.