Halifax massage therapist's trial on sexual assault charges set for early 2028

Sergii Kozub, 44, is accused of assaulting eight female patients between November 2023 and December 2024

Massage therapist Sergii Kozub will go on trial in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax in January 2028 on eight counts of sexual assault. Dates for the 15-day, judge-alone trial were set Thursday, when lawyer Patrick MacEwen appeared in court on behalf of Kozub. Photo by Steve Bruce /The Chronicle Herald

A Halifax massage therapist will stand trial in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in early 2028 on eight counts of sexual assault.

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The charges against Sergii Kozub, 44, were laid in 2025 and involve eight female patients. The offences were allegedly committed between November 2023 and December 2024.

Kozub pleaded not guilty to the charges last month in Supreme Court in Halifax.

Defence lawyer Patrick MacEwen returned to court Thursday on behalf of Kozub to have dates set for a 15-day, judge-alone trial. Constance MacIsaac and Chris Cheverie, the two Crown attorneys assigned to the file, were also present.

Justice Josh Arnold scheduled the hearing to sit from Jan. 17 to Feb. 4, 2028, and ordered a Russian interpreter at the request of the defence.

Arnold encouraged counsel to reach out to the trial judge, Justice Jamie Campbell, to arrange hearings on any pre-trial motions.

Massage therapist Sergii Kozub, right, leaves Halifax provincial court in March 2025 after appearing on an application to vary his release conditions on a charge of sexual assault. The application was denied, and Kozub was subsequently charged with seven more counts of sexual assault. Photo by Steve Bruce /The Chronicle Herrald

Kozub had originally elected to be tried in Halifax provincial court. His trial was set for February and March 2027 before he re-elected this August to have his charges heard in Supreme Court.

The massage therapist was first arrested in March 2025 and charged with sexually assaulting one woman Dec. 9, 2024, during an appointment at Massage Addict, a clinic on Lacewood Drive in Halifax.

Halifax Regional Police announced five additional charges against Kozub in April 2025 and two more in September 2025.

Kozub is free on undertakings to police with conditions. He had to surrender his passport and must remain in Nova Scotia, notify police of any change in his address or employment, have no contact with the complainants, and not attend their residences or workplaces.

The accused attempted to get his release conditions changed to allow him to travel out of country for a vacation, but a provincial court judge denied that application in March 2025.