Allegations scrawled on the Nygard fashion warehouse in Winnipeg. Photo: APTN file
The Toronto Police Service said Friday it had secured an arrest warrant for Winnipeg fashion mogul Peter Nygard on nine historical sex charges.
The news comes the same day Nygard, who is in custody in a Manitoba jail, agreed to be extradited to the United States on similar charges. He had been fighting the extradition until now.
Nygard has denied all the allegations against him.
In the extradition application, he is accused of using his influence in the fashion industry to lure women and girls with the promise of modelling gigs and other financial opportunities.
U.S. authorities say seven alleged victims are expected to testify at a criminal trial that their livelihoods were dependent on having sex with Nygard in the U.S., the Bahamas, and Canada, among other locations.
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Indigenous women say Canadian police aren’t taking their Nygard allegations seriously
Now, Toronto police confirm they have been investigating allegations of multiple historical sexual assaults against Nygard.
“On Wed., Sept. 29, members of the Sex Crimes-Human Trafficking Enforcement Team secured an arrest warrant for Peter Nygard, 80,” said the release from Toronto Police Service.
“Upon arrest, he will be charged with six counts of Sexual Assault, three counts of Forcible Confinement.”
Winnipeg police did not respond to an inquiry from APTN News on whether they would serve the Toronto warrant on Nygard or assist in his arrest on the Toronto charges.
However, in an email, a spokesperson said Winnipeg police had concluded their “investigation into allegations of sexual assaults by Peter Nygard” and forwarded the case to Manitoba Justice for a decision on whether to lay charges.
Meanwhile, two Indigenous women in Manitoba have told APTN they are part of a class-action lawsuit that accuses Nygard of sexual abuse.
So far 57 women – 30 from Canada – are seeking unspecified damages for assaults they allege go back four decades.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated 01/10/21 to add comment from Winnipeg police
