Hearing set for 2023 on human trafficking charges

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on September 8, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

One of several men charged a year ago in relation to human trafficking and other sex-related offences will wait until next year for a preliminary hearing on some of the charges.

During Lethbridge provincial court Wednesday, Lethbridge lawyer Jeremy Debow, acting as agent for Lethbridge lawyer Scott Hadford, asked the court to return the matter of Fadi Chtewi to the Case Management Office to set dates for trial.

Chtewi has recently chosen to have a preliminary inquiry on one charge of sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault, a single charge of sexual contact with a child, sexual counsel of a child, sexual assault of a person under the age of 16, trafficking in persons, and being party to sexual assault.

Crown prosecutor Bruce Ainscough told the court that the matter needed to be scheduled for a preliminary hearing, and since Hadford is not available until March they needed the court’s permission to book the matter past the usual four-month period.

Judge Grace Auger granted permission to schedule the preliminary hearing for April 2023 and sent the matter to the Case Management Office to set the date today.

On Aug. 25 Chtewi chose to be tried by a Court of Queen’s Bench judge without a preliminary hearing in relation to one count of sexual assault. That matter has been adjourned to criminal appearance court in Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench on Sept. 26.

Chtewi will be tried by a Queen’s Bench judge on the other charges, as well, but he has chosen to have a preliminary inquiry on those matters. They return to provincial court today at the Case Management Office to schedule a four-hour hearing.

Police alleged that eight men and two youth from Lethbridge and Calgary selected and groomed a 15-year-old girl and took her to specific locations where sex offences occurred. The same individuals had also engaged in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl, and three additional complainants came forward later in connection with the investigation.

The remaining adult accused, Khalid Alsaid, Abdullah Mohammed, Mohammad Neiribani, Mahmoud Neirabani, Mohammad Zafari and Ziyaad Noor, have either scheduled trial dates or are preparing to set trial dates. One of the youths is set for trial in November, while the other pleaded guilty in March to charges of sexual assault against two girls, and was given a two-year deferred custody and supervision order. 

– with files from Delon Shurtz

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