An Edmonton pediatrician has been discovered responsible of possessing and transmitting youngster pornography after a choose rejected claims a member of the family may need accessed the fabric.
Alberta Courtroom of King’s Bench Justice Kent Davidson convicted Dr. Ghassan Al-Naami of the 2 offences Monday following a prolonged trial that started in January.
Al-Naami, who was allowed to stay on bail pending sentencing, regarded downcast as he exited the courtroom together with his lawyer.
The School of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) stated Al-Naami’s apply allow stays energetic, with supervisory situations.
Al-Naami was arrested at Edmonton Worldwide Airport on Aug. 11, 2019, as he returned from a visit to England together with his spouse and kids. Earlier that yr, police had realized from the RCMP’s Nationwide Little one Exploitation Crime Centre {that a} consumer, ultimately tracked to Al-Naami’s IP tackle, had downloaded and transferred a video of what seemed to be a prepubescent lady being sexually abused.
At no level was it prompt Al-Naami was the person within the video nor that offences had been dedicated in opposition to sufferers in Al-Naami’s care.
Investigators obtained a warrant and searched the Al-Naami residence whereas the household was on trip. In addition they seized numerous units from Al-Naami on the airport. Forensic evaluation of the units led to the invention of the video.
The clip included an grownup man and a younger lady, neither of whose faces had been seen. The evaluation additionally revealed sexually express Skype chat logs, during which a consumer related to Al-Naami’s laptop instructed one other consumer he was watching a video of somebody having intercourse with minors.
The message requested if the opposite consumer wish to see it, after which the Al-Naami account despatched the video. The account used was separate from Al-Naami’s regular Skype account, however included an image of him as its avatar, Davidson stated.
Davidson concluded the clip in query constituted youngster abuse materials, dismissing the defence’s suggestion the Crown had not confirmed the lady concerned was a minor. The choose estimated her age at between six and 11.
Al-Naami’s trial started in January and was delayed repeatedly by procedural points. Along with the cops concerned within the investigation, court docket heard from three of Al-Naami’s relations who had been referred to as to testify by the Crown.
Davidson stated the household witnesses had been “tough, unfriendly and combative” towards Crown prosecutor Parminder Johal — understandably so, he stated, given what they stood to lose within the occasion of Al-Naami’s conviction.
Against this, they had been typically open to various theories proposed by the defence, Davidson stated.
Defence lawyer Ian McKay prompt another person with entry to Al-Naami’s units downloaded and shared the kid abuse materials. One of many relations testified that whereas he didn’t search out materials involving youngsters, he did entry pornography across the time of the offence.
Davidson didn’t purchase it, noting the member of the family “(raised) the spectre” he was concerned whereas being “very cautious to keep away from inculpating himself straight.”
