Suspect in Elnaz Hajtamiri abduction case makes court appearance
A suspect accused in the alleged abduction of Ontario woman Elnaz Hajtamiri in 2022 appeared in a Collingwood courtroom Tuesday.
Adams Ankamah of Brampton was charged by Ontario police one year ago.
Investigators believe he is one of three men who posed as police officers, claiming to have a warrant for Hajtamiri's arrest before dragging her away from the home of loved ones on January 12, 2022. They say she was forcibly put into a stolen white Lexus SUV.
No one has seen or heard from her since as detectives continue to search for answers.
Toronto defence lawyer Richard Fedorowicz represents Ankamah, and is awaiting disclosure of the Crown's evidence against his client.
CTV News has confirmed Ankamah was arrested four years ago by police in Thunder Bay and charged with possession of a firearm and cocaine and fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking. Those charges were later withdrawn.
Ankamah is scheduled to return to court next month. He remains out on bail under strict conditions, according to his lawyer.
Police now presume Hajtamiri dead and have charged her former boyfriend, Lilo Mohamad, with first-degree murder and kidnapping. He remains behind bars.
The authorities continue to search for former rapper Deshawn Davis of Toronto, who is believed to have played a part in the alleged kidnapping.
Deshawn Davis, 35, is shown in this handout photo. (Ontario Provincial Police)
Two other co-accused, Dominique Ewan and Krystal Lawrence, had their charges stayed by the Crown.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
Top: (Far L) Elnaz Hajtamiri, (L) Mohamad Lilo, (R) Harshdeep Binner, (Far R) Riyasat Singh Bottom: (Far L) Harshpreet Sekhon, (L) Akash Rana, (R) Jaspreet Singh, (Far R) Sukhpreet Singh
Seven other men face charges in connection with the case for their alleged involvement with a failed kidnapping attempt and assault on Hajtamiri in a Richmond Hill underground parking garage.
The violent incident prompted Hajtamiri to seek refuge with loved ones in Wasaga Beach just weeks before she disappeared.
The allegations against all of the above accused have not been tested in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Statistics Canada says real GDP grew 0.2 per cent in February
Canada's GDP rose 0.2 per cent in February, driven by a rebound in transportation and warehousing, which saw the largest recorded month-to-month rise in over a year at 1.4 per cent.
BREAKING 4 dead, including infant, in wrong-way crash involving police on Ontario's Highway 401
A wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby, Ont. last night has left four people dead, including an infant, Ontario’s police watchdog says.
NEW Is there a cost to convenience? Canada approves new cancer immunotherapy treatment
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
Canada's new dental program offering hope of free care to millions but many dentists aren't signed up
A new Canadian dental care program is offering the hope of free care to millions, but while 1.7 million people have signed up for the plan, only about 5,000 dentists have done the same.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
Winner of US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer
One of the winners of a historic US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
King Charles III returns to public duties with a trip to a cancer charity
King Charles III returned to public duties on Tuesday, visiting a cancer treatment charity and beginning his carefully managed comeback after the monarch's own cancer diagnosis sidelined him for three months.