A Brampton man convicted of sexual assault in connection with an incident at a downtown Toronto hotel two summers ago has reportedly fled the country ahead of his sentencing hearing.
On July 18, 2015, a 25-year-old woman was at a nightclub in the King and Portland streets area. A man she met at the club would later escort her to a nearby hotel.
The woman was later sexually assaulted inside a hotel room.
In October, Moazzam Tariq was found guilty of sexual assault in connection the case.
According to the Toronto Star, Tariq relinquished one passport following his conviction. Using a different passport, he was able to travel to Pakistan on Nov. 18.
In an email sent to CP24 late Thursday afternoon, a Toronto police representative confirmed that Tariq did not show up for a sentencing hearing scheduled for Dec. 1.
“The presiding judge has therefore issued a bench warrant for his arrest should he be located anywhere in Canada, regardless of the jurisdiction,” Const. Allyson Douglas-Cook said.
Douglas-Cook was not able to confirm Tariq’s current whereabouts.
A statement from the Ontario attorney general’s office called Tariq’s failure to appear for sentencing “concerning.”
“The (m)inistry can further confirm that on Dec. 5, 2016, a Canada-wide warrant was issued for (Tariq’s) arrest,” the statement said.
Tariq is next due in court on Dec. 19, according to the attorney general’s office.
“As this matter is currently before the court, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Surveillance video of the two leaving the club shows the victim having difficulty walking and being propped up and helped along by Tariq.
In a statement released shortly after the incident, police said that the woman had no recollection of meeting Tariq or arriving at the hotel, and that investigators believed that she may have been drugged.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
