Man charged with child abduction in northern Ont. elects for trial by judge
A Brampton man in his 30s charged with abducting a northern Ontario boy last summer has elected to be tried by a judge without a jury.
Manoj Govindbalunikam, 36, was arrested in Sault Ste. Marie on Aug. 16 following an incident in Thessalon the previous evening.
A 'stock photo' of a yellow 2011 model Chevrolet Camaro provided by OPP as a reference for the make and model of the vehicle involved in a suspicious incident with a child on Aug. 15/23. (Supplied)
A nine-year-old boy was fishing by himself at the river around 7:45 p.m. when Govindbalunikam reportedly pulled up in a yellow Camaro and offered him a toy and ice cream.
When a neighbour saw the boy get into the stranger's car and was driven away, they alerted the family and a search ensued.
The boy was found a short while later eating ice cream inside the man's car in another area of town, police said.
Govindbalunikam claimed to be a real estate agent looking for property in the area.
A man with a similar name, Manoj Nikam, was listed online as a salesperson under a Mississauga brokerage following the arrest, but inquiries made to the company were not responded to.
CTV News video journalist Cory Nordstrom attended a court hearing where the accused appeared following the charge and confirmed the suspect appears to be the same man.
Undated photo of Manoj Nikam, a real estate salesperson in southern Ontario. (Realtor.ca)
"While we can’t confirm this is the same individual, we have a record of someone with a similar name who was registered as real estate salesperson in Ontario until Aug. 17," the Real Estate Council of Ontario told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in an email.
"While we can’t speak to this specific case, we can tell you that the process of registering as a real estate agent in Ontario requires completing a rigorous education curriculum, and the successful completion of exams. All agents are further required to demonstrate fitness for registration by meeting certain prescribed requirements. Generally speaking, a criminal conviction would be a factor of consideration for any approval process."
He is still currently listed in the online real estate database, but under a different brokerage. CTV News has reached out for comment and is awaiting a reply.
The accused has been out on bail since a week after the incident.
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
He is not allowed in to be in Thessalon, around or communicate with anyone under 16 years old, attend places where young people are present or have a weapon.
No dates have been set yet for trial, but the matter will return for a hearing May 29 in Sault Ste. Marie Superior Court.
The allegation has not been proven in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Donald Trump convicted on all counts in hush money trial
The jury in Donald Trump's hush money trial has found the former U.S. president guilty on all 34 charges laid against him of falsifying business records in the first degree.
NDP wants Liberals to scrap proposed election date change that could secure pensions for many MPs
The federal New Democrats want to amend the Liberal government's electoral reform legislation to scrap the proposal to push back the vote by a week and consequently secure pensions for dozens of MPs, CTV News has learned.
A pair enjoyed pricey meals and bolted when it was time to pay. Their dine and dash ended in jail
A Welsh couple who dined out on pricey meals and bolted when the bill came is now paying the price, behind bars.
'I didn't think it was real': Oilers fans score free Game 4 tickets from stranger
There's always something to be happy about when the Edmonton Oilers are making good strides in the playoffs, but this is especially true for two lucky fans who were able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Game 4 — for free.
Man stabbed in both legs with a machete in Times Square
A man was stabbed in both legs with a machete at New York's Times Square on Thursday afternoon, police said.
Doug Ford suggests immigrants behind Jewish school shooting
Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested immigrants are to blame for the shooting of an empty Jewish school in Toronto over the weekend, despite police saying they have little information on the suspects.
Drive one of these vehicles? You may pay 37 per cent more than average insurance costs due to thefts
As the number of auto theft incidents rises in Canada, so have insurance premiums for drivers, even the ones whose vehicles aren't stolen.
Shania Twain shares how she forgave her ex-husband's cheating: 'It's his mistake'
Shania Twain recently addressed the infidelity that rocked her marriage to Robert 'Mutt' Lange, whom she divorced in 2010 after he had an affair with her friend, Marie-Anne Thiébaud.
Melanie Joly 'forward-leaning' in debate on Ukraine using NATO arms inside Russia
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is suggesting Canada would support a policy of allowing Ukraine to use NATO-provided arms inside Russia.