Terror-related arrest 'tragic misunderstanding,' says lawyer
The lawyer for a man arrested last month by P.E.I. RCMP under a section of the Criminal Code related to terrorism, says his client is the victim of "a tragic misunderstanding."
Police gave no details and made no mention of charges when they arrested Seyed Amir Hossein Raisolsadat, 20, in March.
Raisolsadat was arrested under Section 810.01 of the Criminal Code. Under that section police may pursue an application for an order to keep the peace if they have reasonable grounds to believe that person will commit a terrorism-related offence.
The case went before court Monday, but was adjourned to May 22.
Raisolsadat's lawyer Brandon Forbes spoke to the media outside the court.
"I think it's important to state on the record right now that my client has not been charged with a crime," said Forbes.
"In fact, if this matter had anything of substance behind it, one would suspect that he would be released on more than a peace bond."
'A number of anonymous threats'
Forbes says the past month has been hard on Raisolsadat's family.
"It appears this matter is a tragic misunderstanding. The tragedy being that now there is a family who has been subjected to a number of anonymous threats and also feels persecuted," said Forbes.
Raisolsadat, a student at the University of Prince Edward Island, paid $500 bail in March under the conditions he not leave P.E.I., not possess firearms and that he report to police once a week.
The case was adjourned Monday because Forbes says he just received the Federal Crown's evidence against Raisolsodat last week and the material will take some time to go through.
Federal Crown lawyer David Schermbrucker, who declined to speak to the media Monday, said in court it will be an entire day to present the complete disclosure.
The bail conditions remain in place.
Next steps for Raisolsadat are either further consenting to the peace bond or challenging the information behind the peace bond, says Forbes.
Whatever concerns the RCMP have with Raisolsadat are allegations at this point and have not been proven in court.
