Fourth terror suspect held on unrelated charges

OTTAWA—The lawyer for a fourth suspect in a terrorism probe has accused police of piling on unrelated domestic abuse charges “out of the blue” in order to buy time for the RCMP to continue its investigation.


Richard Morris said that’s the only conclusion he could come to after his client Awso Peshdary was given bail Saturday on charges of assault and threatening, then immediately rearrested on another count of assault and threatening in connection with alleged domestic abuse in April.

“It became a pile-on yesterday at about three o’clock (Saturday) when they laid the second set of charges as far as I’m concerned,” Morris told reporters Sunday outside court, noting he also would be looking at whether Peshdary’s charter rights were being violated.

Peshdary was questioned Friday by RCMP investigating the domestic terrorism case but freed after several hours only to be arrested by the Ottawa police.

“It would appear . . . that the domestic charges are being used to further a different investigation,” he said, adding later these charges have “come out of the blue in what appears to me to be a very convenient manner.”

Minutes later inside court, a publication ban, requested by assistant Crown attorney Nathalie Cote, was ordered by Justice of the Peace Ray Switzer prohibiting the publication or broadcast on information provided inside the court with respect to the case.

The slightly-built 20-year-old Peshdary, the father of a six-month-old girl, was held in custody and is to appear for a bail hearing Tuesday.

Morris told reporters if police were so concerned about the safety of his client’s wife and child then why did the RCMP wait more than four months to bring the matter — discovered during its terror investigation — to the attention of the Ottawa Police Service.

“It appears to me they made a considered decision to prefer their terrorism investigation over the safety of this woman and child,” he said.

“If they had an allegation of a death threat (back in April) and they chose not to act on it until the 29th of August one has to question what their reasoning was.”

The RCMP refused to comment, while Ottawa police officials couldn’t be reached.
Peshdary, who works at a call centre, was arrested Friday by the RCMP as part of its so-called Project Samossa. The RCMP has yet to identify the suspect.

On Wednesday, RCMP national security investigators arrested Hiva Mohammad Alizadeh, 30, and Misbahuddin Ahmed, 26, at their homes in Ottawa and Dr. Khurram Syed Sher, 28, in London, Ont.
Sher and Ahmed face one count of conspiring to facilitate a terrorist activity in Canada, Iran, Afghanistan, Dubai and Pakistan. Alizadeh faces additional charges of possessing or producing explosives for terrorist purposes and financing terrorism.

Sher’s arrest took on an additional twist when it was first reported by the Toronto Star that he unsuccessful auditioned for the 2008 Canadian Idol audition in Montreal that showed him performing the moonwalk and the robot while singing Avril Lavigne’s hit song “Complicated.”

Police say the group had instructional information and electronic material, including more than 50 electrical circuit boards that would have allowed them to remotely detonate bombs.

Money was also allegedly being sent overseas so unnamed terror groups active in Afghanistan could purchase weapons and other material to attack Canadian and coalition military forces fighting the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

According to the RCMP, the arrested suspects were only months away from being able to detonate a bomb on Canadian soil. Police swooped in because they feared Alizadeh was about to leave the country to meet with international terror contacts. According to reports, one of the targets was Parliament.

On Thursday police also named three co-conspirators — James Lara, Rizgar Alizadeh and Zakaria Mamosta — who are believed to be outside of Canada.
Morris told reporters before his client was returned to custody that Peshdary had not had so much as a speeding ticket before heavily armed police surrounded his vehicle Friday on his way to work.

“He looks a bit like a deer in the headlights,” he said. “He has never been in any trouble before. He has never had any interaction with the police.”
Morris said his Muslim client, who is celebrating the month of Ramadan, has lost his appetite in jail.
“I remain of the view that there is no reason to hold him in custody,” Morris said after the court appearance.

“They are dragging things out unnecessarily.” (News- The Star)