Former Fashion Mogul Sentenced to 11 Years for Sexual Assault #

A former Canadian fashion mogul, aged 83, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for sexually assaulting four women. The judge described the convicted individual as a “sexual predator” during the sentencing in a Toronto courtroom.

The court noted that the assaults took place at the company’s offices, with one victim being only 16 years old at the time. This fact was considered an aggravating factor in the case. The convicted individual was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault in November but acquitted of a fifth count and one count of forcible confinement.

The fashion mogul faces additional sexual assault and sex trafficking charges in other Canadian cities and the United States. He has consistently denied all allegations against him.

Arriving at the courthouse in a wheelchair, the convicted individual did not address the court when given the opportunity. After accounting for time served, his actual time behind bars will be reduced to slightly less than seven years. He will be eligible to apply for parole in two years.

The charges stemmed from allegations dating back to the 1980s until the mid-2000s. During the trial, five women testified that they were invited to the business headquarters under various pretexts, such as tours or job interviews. Four of these encounters ended in sexual assault in a top-floor bedroom suite.

The women shared similar stories of meeting the fashion mogul in various locations and receiving invitations to visit the headquarters. All five women stated that their interactions ended with non-consensual sexual activity.

The defense argued for a six-year sentence, citing the client’s age and poor health. However, the judge dismissed this argument, stating that the convicted individual had been receiving special treatment in custody due to various health issues. The judge also suggested that health issues may have been exaggerated in submissions to the court.

The judge described the case as “a Canadian success story gone very wrong.” The fashion company, founded in 1967, grew to become an international brand producing women’s clothing. The founder stepped down as chairman after law enforcement raided offices in 2020. The company has since filed for bankruptcy and entered receivership.

The convicted individual was first arrested in 2020 under the Extradition Act, facing multiple charges in the United States. A recent application for a judicial review of the extradition order was dismissed by Manitoba’s highest court.