Human trafficking case set for trial in 2023

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on May 5, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Calgary doctor charged in relation to a human trafficking case in Lethbridge is headed for trial, but not until next year.
Lawyer James Hawkins, who appeared in Lethbridge provincial court Wednesday for the accused, Ziyaad Noor, said a three-day trial has been scheduled to begin Jan. 11, 2023. Hawkins noted that although courtrooms were available for trial in December of this year, Crown and defence were not available.
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 in persons, and being party to sexual assault. The accused pleaded not guilty in March and elected to be tried by a provincial court judge.
The charges stem from a police investigation in which 10 individuals, including two youth, were arrested last August. Police said several men groomed a 15-year-old girl and took her to various locations where sex offences took place. The same individuals also engaged in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl, and three additional victims came forward later in connection with the investigation.
Two of the adults accused, Meriton Krasniqi and Khaled Alsaid, previously scheduled trial dates for September and December of this year respectively, while one of the youths, who can’t be identified because of his age at the time of his arrest, is set for a three-day trial in November. The other youth resolved his charges in March when he pleaded guilty 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.
The remaining accused, Fadi Chtewi, Abdulla Mohammad, Mohammad Neirabani, Mahmoud Neirabani, and Mohammad Zafari are at various stages of their matters and have yet to set dates for trial or other hearings. Their matters are set to be spoken to later this month.

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