sexcrimes

Billionaire fashion mogul and long-time resident of Lyford Cay, Peter Nygard was found guilty of sexual assault in Canada on Sunday and is awaiting sentencing following six weeks of trials.

The frail 82-year-old Nygard, who was reportedly rolled into court in a wheelchair with his hair tied back with a long jacket over a hoodie and tinted glasses — stood indifferent with his lawyers as the jury read the guilty verdict.

The big picture

Nygard’s name has become synonymous with sex crimes and has been categorized with the likes of Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein, prompting a docuseries Evil by Design: Surviving Nygard.

His luxurious Lyford Cay home was known for cocktail parties where thousands of Bahamians, particularly young women were invited and engaged in topless shows.

The case in which he was found guilty on Sunday, spanned from 1988 to 2005 and involved five women who accused him of sexual assault at his Toronto headquarters where he invited them for job interviews and a tour.

Nygard denied all of the allegations in this case after taking the stand in his defense.

He is still facing criminal charges in three other jurisdictions in Canada and awaits other trials in Quebec and Manitoba for sexual assault as well.

The US awaits his extradition after the Canadian cases are completed.

Why it matters

Nygard’s popularity grew in the Bahamas due to his philanthropy and close ties to the Progressive Liberal Party, donating millions of dollars to the party during its time in office in 2012.

A video once circulated, showing former PLP Labour and National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson receiving payments from Nygard which totaled $94,131.10 over an 18-month period.

Nygard’s former videographer Stephen Feralio captured Peter Nygard talking about Perry Christie winning the 2012 Bahamian election on a cellphone. Visit this link to hear Nygard’s reaction to the 2012 election:  https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1850003523643/

When the Nygard was arrested on Canada in 2021, then FNM Chairman Carl Culmer called on the PLP who was in opposition at the time, to publicly address its party’s connection to Nygard and join in asking for justice for Bahamian victims affected by the alleged actions of Nygard.  But PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell pointed a finger at the FNM, stating that Nygard contributed financially to the political campaign too, which the FNM denied.

What Prime Minister Philip Davis said in 2020

In December 2020 Davis, the then-opposition leader was asked to comment on Nygard’s behavior while in the country, Davis said, “Peter, what’s his name?

“My position in respect to what I heard or [have] not heard about him is that I’m more concerned about what this election is going to be about (the general election of September 2021)

“I’m not concerned about a foreign action that has been brought against a foreign person who may have had an incident in the Bahamas.”

Featured Photo credit: Peter Nygard is seen in a car after leaving Toronto court on Sept. 27. The one-time Canadian fashion mogul is expected to testify at his sexual assault trial Wednesday. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Residents in the Bacardi area can breathe a sigh of relief after police arrested a 27-year-old man believed to be responsible for several sexual assaults in the area.

Police used a detailed sketch to track down the alleged predator and found him in possession of a vehicle used in one of the sexual crimes.

A woman was walking in the area on Monday morning around 10 am, when a man driving a grey vehicle pulled along her, forcing her into the vehicle, carrying her to nearby bushes and raping her.

When captured at his residence in Lincoln Boulevard, the police revealed the man is on bail for murder and armed robbery.

“Officers also recovered the alleged vehicle utilized in the commission of the crimes along with a loaded pistol.

The sexual assault followed the assault of 32 and 34-year-old women who were at home when a predator reportedly climbed through a window around 2 am, held them at gunpoint, robbed them of cash, sexually assaulted them then escaped in their vehicle, a red Nissan Note.

Authorities warned that sexual assault cases have increased when compared to last year and requested women, particularly in the Carmichael Road area to be vigilant.

Police increased saturation patrols in southwestern New Providence to handle the startling criminal trend.

Seventy-nine-year-old Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard was arrested in Winnipeg, Canada on Monday, facing nine counts of rackerteering, sex trafficking and other related crimes.

The United States asked Canada to issue a warrant under the two countries’ extradition treaty.

Why it matters

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York says at dozens of alleged victims in the U.S., the Bahamas and Canada, and other locations have accused Peter Nygard of sex crimes.

What happened in court on Tuesday

• Nygard appeared in court looking dishevelled, with his hair in a bun style. His feet and hands were shackled, wearing a grey sweatshirt and grey track pants.
• Nygard’s lawyer, Jay Prober, asked for a publication ban.
• Canada’s Attorney General representative Scott Farlinger, opposed it, saying publication bans are issued in Canada to protect the accused’s right to a fair trial, which doesn’t apply in this case as the trial will be held in the U.S.
• Justice Sheldon Lanchbery denied the request for the publication ban, saying an open court is important and that there is no evidence that additional publicity, in this case, would affect Nygard’s right to a fair trial in the U.S.
• Nygard is being held at the Winnipeg Remand Centre until January 13th, his next court appearance.
• His lawyer said he would apply for bail before that date.

What the victims’ lawyers are saying

• One of the lawyers Lisa Haba told CBC News, “The survivors of our lawsuit have been waiting for this day for a very long time.”
• “Peter Nygard’s arrest marks the next chapter in holding him and his accomplices accountable for the unspeakable crimes against women and children they have perpetuated for decades. We will continue to seek justice.”
• Another lawyer Greg Gutzler added, “We are relieved that some measure of accountability is hopefully forthcoming, but we would be remiss if we did not state that this is something that should have been done decades ago.”