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SAN MATEO, CA- The British founder of a Northern California startup tech company was arrested and charged with assaulting and sexually abusing a toddler.
Zain Jaffer, the founder of mobile advertising company Vungle, was also charged with battery of a police officer and emergency personnel.
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said Jaffer, possibly of South Asian origin, was charged with two counts of child abuse, against his son and daughter, as well as oral copulation of a person under 14, lewd act upon a child and assault likely to produce great bodily injury.
An initial charge of attempted murder was dropped after the district attorney determined there was not enough evidence to support it.
The 29-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charges on October 17 in San Mateo County. Jaffer remained in San Mateo County Jail on October 20 on $300,000 bail.
San Francisco-based Vungle removed Jaffer as its chief executive on October 19 and placed him on indefinite leave.
Rick Tallman, who replaced him as CEO, said Vungle “removed him as rapidly as possible,”media reports said.
"The actions of one individual are in no way reflective of the almost 200 dedicated and hard-working people who work for Vungle," Tallman said. "Everyone at the company is appalled and deeply saddened by these events."
Jaffer, who has degrees from King’s College London, London Business School and University College London, was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2012, founded Vungle in London in 2011 and moved its operations to San Francisco shortly thereafter.
Jaffer’s next appearance in court is scheduled for November 1.