York Regional Police Criminal Investigations Bureau have made another arrest in relation to the attack on Elnaz Hajtamiri that occurred in December 2021, in 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. In February 2023, a fourth suspect was arrested.
On March 1, 2023, officers identified and charged a fifth suspect, Akash Rana, 25, in connection with the attack on Hajtamiri. He remains in custody and will appear next in court in Newmarket on March 9, 2023.
CHARGED:
|
CHARGES:
|
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 SUV. York Regional Police continues to work with the OPP in this investigation.
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 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 9, 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.
On February 16, 2023, Harshpreet Sekhon was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault and Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court March 7, 2023
York Regional Police is still seeking public assistance in identifying additional individuals who may have been involved in the planning or assisting in the violent assault of Elnaz Hajtamiri. Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police #2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext.7241
Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
