DA Seeks Info on Accused Riverside Rapist

by dan rivoli

the manhattan district attorney's office is seeking people who have been in contact with a man arrested for rape july 27.

hugues akassy, 42, was arrested after a russian woman told police he raped her during a date in riverside park.

the new york post reported that the russian woman met 42-year-old akassy two days prior at the time warner center. they had agreed to meet at the park's west 72nd street entrance. akassy and the woman went on a picnic, the post reported.

afterwards, he took her to a secluded spot and forcibly had sex with her, police said. after the woman reported the rape to the police, akassy was picked up at west 72nd street and west end avenue. he was charged with rape and sexual abuse. he is being held on $100,000 bail.

the district attorney's office is trying to find other women that may have been in contact with akassy. the post reported on two previous incidents on the upper west side, including akassy trespassing on a woman's fire escape, sending a harassing email to another woman and harassing a woman on the street in march 2009.

akassy also goes by hugues-denver akassy. he is a french-african journalist who produces a news show called orbite tv show, an hour-long program that broadcasts on french international cable networks and in french-speaking african countries.

those with information about akassy can call the sex crimes unit at 212-3359373.