Lawyer for doctor accused in human trafficking case waiting for disclosure

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on December 17, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

After waiting several months to receive disclosure from the Crown’s office, a Calgary lawyer representing a doctor charged with human trafficking will have to wait awhile longer.
James Hawkins, who appeared Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court on behalf of his client, Dr. Zyaad Noor of Calgary, explained he has received additional disclosure since his last court appearance in November, but it’s still not complete.
“We’ve been waiting for sometime for disclosure on this matter,” Hawkins stressed again.
Hawkins said even though he has received the initial bail synopsis and some media files, there is still a “significant” amount of disclosure outstanding, and he requested a one-week adjournment. He added he also needs to speak to the Crown in relation to Noor’s release status, which may be addressed when the matter returns to court next Thursday.
Special Prosecutions in Calgary is prosecuting the case and, court was told previously, has an immense amount of information to process before it will be ready for lawyers representing several co-accused.
Noor is charged with sexual contact with a child, sexual counsel of a child, sexual assault of a person under the age of 16, sexual assault causing bodily harm, aggravated sexual assault, trafficking of a person under the age of 18, and sexual assault – party to offence with any other person.
Noor is one of eight adults charged in relation to a human trafficking case, in which police say 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.
In addition to Noor, the adults accused are Khaled Alsaid, Fadi Chtewi, Meriton Krasniqi, Abdullah Mohammad, Mohammad Neirabani, Mahmoud Neirabani, and Mohammad Zafari. Some of the co-accused are set to return to court today, while others don’t return to court until the new year.
Two youth, who cannot be identified, were charged with various sex offences, as well.

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