Nygard to spend Christmas behind bars

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This article was published 23/12/2020 (1463 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Peter Nygard’s legal team has yet to file a bail application, meaning the Winnipeg fashion mogul is likely to spend Christmas and New Year’s Eve alone in jail.

Nygard was arrested by the RCMP, working in co-operation with the Winnipeg Police Service, on Dec. 15, at a residence in the south end of the city.

Officials in the U.S. have charged him with a number of criminal offences related to sex trafficking and racketeering.

Canadian law enforcement was working at the behest of their U.S. counterparts when they arrested Nygard. He is staring down a possible extradition to the U.S. and is being held at the Winnipeg Remand Centre.

On Feb. 13, 2020, 10 women filed a class-action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging Nygard had drugged, raped and sodomized them. Since then, the number of public accusers has risen to more than 50. The incidents are alleged to have occurred in several countries over decades.

His first court appearance was on Dec. 15. An attempt by Nygard’s longtime lawyer, Jay Prober, to have the proceedings covered by a publication ban, was denied by a Court of Queen’s Bench Justice.

Nygard, speaking through his attorneys, has repeatedly maintained his innocence, claiming he’s at the centre of an elaborate conspiracy orchestrated by people who have a vendetta against him and intent on destroying his business and reputation.

His next appearance is scheduled for Jan. 13.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca