Not guilty plea in human trafficking case
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on June 9, 2022.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com Another of several men charged in relation to human trafficking has pleaded not guilty to numerous sex offences, and could set a trial date when he returns to court later this month.Calgary lawyer Jeanine Zahara entered the pleas Wednesday on behalf of her client, Mahmoud Neirabani, who is charged with sexual contact with a child, sexual counsel of a child, sexual assault, sexual assault of a person under the age of 16, aggravated sexual assault, trafficking in persons, and party with others to sexual assault.
Zahara also chose trial by a provincial court judge, and the matter was adjourned to June 22, ostensibly to schedule a date for a three-day trial. In the meantime, the Crown and defence will arrange a pre-trial conference to discuss trial issues and find a date for the trial.
Zahara has adjourned the case numerous times since her client and nine other individuals were arrested nearly a year ago. Each time she told court she had not received all of the disclosure from the Crown’s office, or disclosure was so unorganized and voluminous she hadn’t had time to fully review it with her client.
However, on Wednesday in Lethbridge provincial court she said disclosure was finally complete and she was prepared to schedule a trial.
The accused is part of a group of men and two youth who were charged last August in relation to human trafficking investigation. Police said several men selected and groomed a 15-year-old girl and took her to specific locations where sex offences took place. The same individuals had also engaged in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl, and three additional victims came forward later in connection with the investigation.
The charges against all the accused include sexual interference, sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault, and all but one of the accused face charges of trafficking persons under the age of 18. They were all released on bail shortly after they were arrested, and one of the youths pleaded guilty in March to two counts of sexual assault against two girls, and was given a two-year deferred custody and supervision order, to be served in the community.
Several of the individuals have already pleaded not guilty to their charges and have either set trial dates or are soon expected to. Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter 4
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