Former fashion mogul Peter Nygard is facing new charges of sexual assault and unlawful confinement after Manitoba justice officials sought a second opinion on the evidence outside of his home province. The charges stem from allegations made by a person who came forward in 2020 regarding a sexual assault that allegedly took place at the Nygard corporate headquarters in Winnipeg in 1993. The 81-year-old Nygard was arrested at the Toronto South Detention Centre where he is currently being held for similar charges in Ontario.
Interestingly, there were originally no charges laid in Manitoba, despite Nygard having spent decades building a reputation in the province. Nygard, who had his name and face prominently displayed in Nygard stores throughout Winnipeg, even received a key to the city in 2008. However, following the allegations and subsequent arrest, the decision not to lay charges in Manitoba drew criticism, especially considering other police forces in Canada had brought charges against Nygard.
In addition to the charges now faced in Manitoba and Ontario, Nygard also faces charges in Quebec and the United States. Quebec has charged him with two counts of sexual assault, while Ontario has charged him with nine counts. Furthermore, authorities in the United States have requested Nygard’s extradition on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Nygard has appealed the extradition order, but it is expected that he will be sent to the United States to face charges once his Canadian court cases are resolved.
Nygard has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings. However, following the allegations, the Manitoba government decided to forward the investigation to Saskatchewan Justice in 2022 for an independent review. Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen stated that the review was necessary to ensure people’s confidence in the justice system. Goertzen explained that he had concerns about the lack of charges in Manitoba while charges were being laid elsewhere, and he wanted to ensure that there was a good reason for this discrepancy.
After reviewing the independent review conducted in Saskatchewan, the police issued an arrest warrant for Nygard on Monday. The fashion mogul founded his company, Nygard International, in Winnipeg in 1967. However, following the raid on his offices by the FBI and police in New York in February 2020, Nygard stepped down as chairman, and the company later filed for bankruptcy.
The ongoing legal proceedings against Nygard have garnered significant attention due to his prominent position in the fashion industry and his previous fame in Winnipeg. As the case unfolds, many will be closely watching to see how the charges in different provinces and the extradition request from the United States are resolved.
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