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
One dead, 26 wounded in overnight shooting in Ohio: reports
A shooting on a street in Akron, Ohio, killed one man and wounded 26 other people early Sunday morning, according to reports by local news outlets.
Ambassador says interactions with Russia 'quite limited' but 'not unfriendly'
Canada's ambassador to Russia says while Ottawa has 'grave concerns' about the Kremlin's 'longer-term trends,' the war in Ukraine is 'a primary barrier to a change in the relationship.'
Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting
A brief break during Wednesday's city council meeting in Saskatoon nearly cost the city dearly.
South Korea vows 'unbearable' retaliation against North Korea over its launch of trash balloons
South Korea said Sunday it’ll soon take retaliatory steps against North Korea over its launch of trash-carrying balloons across the border and other provocations.
Lanny McDonald and a few old Flames take the Stanley Cup on a surprise visit to the man who saved his life
The Stanley Cup was passing through town Friday, and Lanny Legend took it upon himself to take it for a surprise visit.
Chad Daybell sentenced to death for killing wife and girlfriend’s two children in jury decision
Jurors resumed deliberations Saturday on whether a man should be sentenced to death after being convicted days earlier of the murders of his wife and his girlfriend’s two youngest children in Idaho.
Mass parachute jump over Normandy kicks off commemorations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day
Parachutists jumping from Second World War-era planes hurled themselves Sunday into now peaceful Normandy skies where war once raged, heralding a week of ceremonies for the fast-disappearing generation of Allied troops who fought from D-Day beaches 80 years ago.
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Father who killed one-year-old son with axe may be allowed to travel in southwestern Ontario
A Mennonite father who killed his one-year-old son with an axe may be allowed to travel to parts of southern Ontario in the coming months