Human trafficking for sexual purposes | Peter Nygard’s appeal against his extradition order rejected

(Winnipeg) Manitoba Court of Appeal has dismissed Peter Nygard’s application for judicial review of an order extraditing the former fashion mogul to the United States, where he faces sex trafficking charges and racketeering.

The three-judge panel says there is no reason to interfere with the 2022 extradition order that then-Justice Minister David Lametti issued under the Extradition law.

US authorities have requested Mr. Nygard’s extradition from Canada as the man faces nine charges filed in New York alleging he was involved in illegal activities to sexually abuse and exploit women and minor girls.

Mr. Nygard’s lawyers wanted Mr. Lametti to ensure that their client would not be housed at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, where they say conditions are terrible.

They also argued that Mr. Nygard should not be handed over to the United States for racketeering because there is no comparable offense in Canada.

The Court of Appeal says Mr. Lametti provided detailed and careful reasons in response to Mr. Nygard’s concerns and that his extradition order was justified.

It indicates that the Minister of Justice was convinced that Mr. Nygard, in his eighties and in poor health, would be treated humanely and had no reason to doubt the fairness of the judicial process.

Mr. Nygard, founder of a now-defunct women’s fashion company, faces similar allegations in Canada. The extradition order means he will be sent to the United States once his trials in Canada are resolved.

Mr. Nygard was convicted in November of four counts of sexual assault in Toronto for offenses committed between the 1980s and the mid-2000s. He was acquitted of a fifth charge, as well as than the accusation of kidnapping.

Mr. Nygard also faces one count of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment in Quebec, as well as sexual charges in Winnipeg.

None of the charges against Mr. Nygard in these jurisdictions, or in the United States, have been tested in court. He has always denied all allegations against him.