Toronto Court Hands Down Verdict
Toronto, ONÂ – Former Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Monday, following his conviction on four counts of sexual assault. The assaults took place in his Toronto office building, with some incidents dating back decades.
The 11-year sentence has been adjusted to account for the time Nygard has already spent behind bars. As a result, he has approximately 6.7 years left to serve and will be eligible for full parole after serving one-third of that time.
The trial and conviction
Nygard, 83, was found guilty by a Toronto jury last November. He faced four counts of sexual assault, while a fifth count of sexual assault and one count of forced confinement were dismissed. The Ontario Superior Court’s six-week trial featured testimony from five complainants. These women testified that between the late 1980s and around 2005, Nygard assaulted them in a private bedroom suite located on the top floor of his office building.
International charges and arrest
Nygard’s legal troubles are not confined to Canada. Canadian police arrested him in late 2020 at the request of the United States, where he is accused of using his businesses to lure women and girls for sexual exploitation. Toronto police laid their charges against him about a year later.
Additionally, Nygard faces charges of sexual assault and forcible confinement in Manitoba and Quebec. He is also fighting extradition to the U.S., where he faces federal charges in New York for nine offenses, including conspiracy to commit racketeering, transportation of a minor for the purpose of prostitution, and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.
A fall from grace
Peter Nygard was born in Finland and grew up in the Canadian province of Manitoba. He eventually ran his namesake clothing company and became one of the wealthiest individuals in the country. However, his success story has taken a dark turn.
“Peter Nygard is a sexual predator. He is also a Canadian success story gone very wrong,” said Justice Robert Goldstein on Monday. “He used his wealth and his power to commit four sexual assaults.”
The sentencing of Peter Nygard marks a significant chapter in a prolonged legal saga. As he battles additional charges both in Canada and the United States, the once-prominent fashion mogul’s future remains uncertain.
