sexcrimes

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.”