Toronto rapper 'Top5' brags about time in jail, thanks guards he says gave him cellphones
More than two weeks have passed since Hassan Ali walked out of a Toronto courtroom a free man, after prosecutors decided not to move forward with a first-degree murder trial against the local rapper.
Two days after the charges were stayed, Ali, who goes by the stage name ‘Top5’ joined an online live stream where he boasted about his time in jail.
“I had a knife in jail. I had a cheeseburger in jail. I had a phone in jail,” Ali said. He went on to thank the correctional officers, saying, “Shoutout to the COs who took care of me and gave me the phones.”
In 2023, Ali used one of those cellphones to record a music video while in custody at the Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton, Ont, claiming he paid someone $10,000 to get it.
Ali was serving time at the facility, which he described as the “Four Seasons” in another interview. while awaiting trial in the shooting death of Hashim Omar Hashi, a 20-year-old student who police say had no criminal ties.
While contraband is not uncommon behind bars, Ontario’s solicitor general said it launched a full investigation into the incident last June.
More than a year later, the office tells CTV News Toronto, “The ministry does not comment on internal investigations but can confirm that the investigation has concluded, and all appropriate action has been taken.”
Former homicide detective Mark Mendelson explains that while it’s routine for the ministry not to divulge the outcome of an investigation, he says these system flaws do happen, particularly in the provincial system because of how transient it is.
“It happens through many different modes of transport into the system from the correctional officers at the particular jail to the courthouse to the security in the courthouse to private meetings with their counsel,” Mendelson said.
Since his release, Ali has appeared on multiple platforms threatening to incite violence. However, the line is often blurred between what rappers say being taken as fact versus artistic expression.
Mendelson says, “We saw what happened in court with this particular gentleman where certain evidence was not allowed in. That doesn’t mean the end of investigation at all, that means they’re going to continue on and if this man happens to inject himself back into the investigation again then so be it.”
Although the charges against Ali were stayed, they could still be revived by the Crown at a later date. Meanwhile, Toronto police are not commenting on the investigation into Hashi’s death as it remains ongoing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Tracking Hurricane Milton: Storm becomes world's strongest of 2024
After reaching peak intensity with wind speeds of 180 m.p.h. (285 km/h) on Monday night, Milton became the strongest storm on our planet for 2024.
Hurricane Milton will likely hit Florida cities like Orlando, Tampa and Daytona Beach
Hurricane Milton is expected to leave a path of devastation across central Florida, from Tampa in the west to Daytona Beach in the east.
'This is just horrific': Meteorologist becomes emotional while providing Hurricane Milton update
A seasoned American meteorologist became emotional on air as he gave an update on a major hurricane, later suggesting the reason behind his strong reaction.
'A cause for concern': Canadian universities slip down world ranking list
An organization that ranks the best universities across the globe says its latest report shows a concerning trend that several of Canada’s institutions are slipping down its list.
B.C. man convicted of killing neighbour's chihuahua to protect his chickens
A British Columbia provincial court judge says a Boston Bar man who shot a teacup Chihuahua named Bear claiming it was menacing his chickens was not justified in killing the animal.
Liberals considering proroguing Parliament amid document impasse? Freeland says 'no'
The minority Liberal government is not considering proroguing Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Tuesday, despite persisting uncertainty over who is willing to keep propping them up and procedural wrangling over a Conservative led-privilege debate.
Hertz tells B.C. tribunal online reservations do not 'guarantee' an available car
A man who showed up at a rental car company only to be told his online reservation would not be honoured is entitled to compensation, B.C.'s small claims tribunal has ruled.
'Extremely disappointed': Family of homicide victim storms out of courtroom as judge reads decision
Emotions boiled over after a judge acquitted two out of three defendants in a manslaughter case, while the third accused has since died.
'I find it really disheartening': Family calls out police after Ottawa senior falls victim to theft in parking lot
On September 11, Madeleine Gervais was the victim of a theft in Ottawa's west end. It happened in the Loblaws parking lot in College Square, when she was approached by a man and a woman who insisted to help her load her groceries into her car.