A massage therapist was charged March 31 with indecent liberties after he touched a woman inappropriately during a session of Shiatsu massage at a Lynnwood spa, a prosecutor said.
Edward Young Bai Kim, 62, of Tacoma is scheduled to appear April 15 in Snohomish County Superior Court, deputy prosecutor Travis Johnson said.
The woman, 34, told police that she went into Newlife Fitness and Spa in Lynnwood on Jan. 30, 2007, for her first Shiatsu massage.
Shiatsu, also known as acupressure, is a finger-pressure massage technique developed in Asian cultures. It is supposed to be a deep-muscle and tissue-relaxation technique that, among other things, may improve blood circulation.
The woman complained that Kim touched her genital area, startling her. She then got off the massage table and left the establishment, according to charging documents.
The case also has been under investigation by the state Department of Health, which licenses massage therapists, Johnson said.
Johnson said he is uncertain about the status of Kim’s license. Health officials could not be reached for comment late Monday.
A Health Department investigator questioned Kim, who denied inappropriate touching, Johnson said.
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