Calgary terrorism suspect switches lawyer, delaying next step in the case
Client: Zakarya Rida Hussein
Charge: Terrorism
Defence: suspect switched lawyers and now retaining counsel from Alain Hepner
Zakarya Rida Hussein was arrested in June and charged with four terrorism-related charges in connection with a TikTok video and the possession or preparation of explosive-making instructions
Calgary terrorism suspect Zakarya Rida Hussein has switched lawyers, likely delaying his case proceeding.
Defence lawyer Gunntas Sidhu appeared in Calgary Court of Justice on Monday as agent for high profile criminal counsel Alain Hepner to say he would be representing Hussein going forward.
“Mr. Hepner is just in the process of meeting with Mr. Hussein,” Sidhu told Justice Karen Molle.
“He’s also awaiting disclosure.”
Sidhu asked that the case be adjourned to Monday to allow Hepner to come on board.
Earlier, Molle was told Hussein’s former lawyer, Rame Katrib, was asking to be removed as counsel of record.
“I have instructions to request Mr. Katrib be removed as counsel of record,” Kaileah Pino, a student-at-law, told Molle.
One charge says Hussein facilitated a terrorist activity by posting a TikTok video
Hussein, 20, was arrested in June and charged with four terrorism-related charges in connection with a May 14 TikTok video and the possession or preparation of explosive-making instructions.
Two charges relate to the online posting while two others involved activity between June 1 and June 15, the day he was arrested by the RCMP.
One charge states that “Hussein … did by posting a video on TikTok, knowingly facilitate a terrorist activity.”
The charging document does not indicate what the terrorism activity was.
The date of the video was the accused’s 20th birthday.
A second charge related to the same conduct alleges “Hussein … did by posting a video on TikTok, knowingly participate in or contribute to, directly or indirectly, an activity of a terrorist group.”
The two groups named in the charge are the Islamic State (ISIS) and Al-Qaeda.
Hussein, who did not appear in court on Friday, was ordered detained by Justice Barry Nordin following a July 28 bail hearing.
He was arrested by members of the RCMP’s integrated national security enforcement team with the assistance of Calgary Police Service officers.
Source: The Calgary Herald