Former boyfriend accused in disappearance of missing woman seeks bail
After eight hours of deliberations on Thursday, Mohamad Lilo’s bail hearing will resume on Monday in Barrie to determine whether the former boyfriend of Elnaz Hajtamiri should be released from jail.
Lilo, who was arrested last month in the Montreal area, is charged with attempted murder, attempted kidnapping and kidnapping related to the disappearance of Hajtamiri; who hasn’t been seen or heard from since Jan. 12.
Police say Hajtamiri was forcibly taken from a Wasaga Beach home, where she had been in hiding, by three men posing as police officers in a white Lexus SUV.
According to investigators, Hajtamiri was assaulted with a frying pan weeks earlier in an underground parking garage in Richmond Hill. Her family says she sustained serious injuries to her head and required more than 30 stitches. The alleged attempted abduction was thwarted when a passerby witnessed two men trying to take her away and interfered.
Police arrested one man in Brampton in April. Riyasat Singh is charged with attempted murder and attempted kidnapping, among other offences. His co-accused is Harshdeep Binner; he remains on the loose with a Canada-wide warrant for his arrest.
- Mohamad Lilo seeks bail after being charged in Elnaz Hajtamiri disappearance
- Latest developments in the Elnaz Hajtamiri investigation
CTV News has confirmed both Singh and Binner were arrested in late March by police in Edmonton following an investigation into the theft of about 40 Ford F-150 pickup trucks. They were released after being charged with vehicle theft, possession of stolen property and possession of break-in instruments.
All along, Ontario Provincial Police investigators said Lilo, who was initially charged with criminal harassment about a week after Hajtamiri’s disappearance, has offered little help to police.
Six months after Hajtamiri’s disappearance, Lilo was arrested, charged and flown by police to Ontario on July 12. He’s been in custody since. The 35-year-old accused’s lawyer, Philippe Grenier, maintains his client’s innocence as he seeks his release pending a trial conducted in the French language.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.