Investigators with the York Regional Police Criminal Investigations Bureau have made an additional arrest in relation to the attack on Elnaz Hajtamiri that occurred in December 2021, in the City of Richmond Hill.
On December 20, 2021, officers responded to an address on King William Crescent, which is in the area of Yonge Street and Bantry Avenue, for a call that a female victim was attacked and struck with a frying pan in an underground parking garage. The victim, Elnaz Hajtamiri, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the suspects fled the scene in a vehicle. In 2022, three suspects were identified and charged in the violent attack.
On February 16, 2023, officers identified and charged a fourth suspect, Harshpreet Sekhon, 25, in connection with the attack on Hajtamiri on December 20, 2021.
CHARGED:
- Harshpreet Sekhon, 25, of Mono, Ontario
CHARGES:
- Aggravated Assault
- Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
York Regional Police continue to work closely with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and a $100,000 reward exists for information on the abduction of Elnaz Hajtamiri. On January 12, 2022, Hajtamiri, 37, was abducted at approximately 8:30 p.m. from a Wasaga Beach residence by three suspects dressed in fake police gear. They fled in a white Lexus RX sport utility vehicle.
On April 13, 2022, York Regional Police arrested and charged Riyasat Singh with Attempted Murder, Attempted Kidnapping, Mischief to Property over $5,000 and Possession of Stolen Property over $5,000 in the Richmond Hill incident. On November 28, 2022, SINGH pleaded guilty to one count of Aggravated Assault and was sentenced to one of year jail time, however he was deported on December 14, 2022.
Also, in April 2022, a Canada-wide warrant was issued for a second suspect, identified as Harshdeep Binner from Brampton. He was charged with Attempted Murder, Attempted Kidnapping, Mischief to Property over $5,000 and Possession of Stolen Property over $5,000. Binner currently remains in custody at this time and will appear next in Newmarket Court on March 2, 2023.
On July 12, 2022, Mohamad LILO, Hajtamiri’s ex-boyfriend, was arrested by YRP and the OPP in relation to the underground attack and was charged with Attempted Murder and Attempted Kidnapping.
The Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board has approved a $50,000 reward, which combined with the OPP reward of the same amount, has resulted in a $100,000 reward to anyone with information leading to the location of Elnaz Hajtamiri and/or the identification, arrest and conviction of those responsible for her disappearance.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.