In a just outcome, renowned Canadian fashion entrepreneur Peter Nygard has been convicted and handed an 11-year prison sentence for committing sexual assaults.
Ex-Canadian fashion tycoon Peter Nygard was handed an 11-year jail term in a Toronto court on Monday, classified as a "sexual predator" by the judge. The 83-year-old was found guilty of sexually assaulting four females, all assaulted at his corporate headquarters.
Justice Robert Goldstein pronounced that Nygard demonstrated no compassion towards his victims, who were all victims of his attacks. One of the mitigating circumstances, the judge mentioned, was the victim's age, as she was only 16 at the time of the incident.
Nygard was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault in November and was cleared of a fifth count and an additional forcible confinement charge. He is currently facing sexual assault and human trafficking charges in Montreal, Winnipeg, and the U.S.
Nygard has denied any wrongdoing.
Arriving at the courtroom in a wheelchair, Nygard did not address the court when given the chance. His incarceration time will be reduced by about 6.5 years due to time served. He will be eligible to apply for parole after 2 years.
The offenses against Nygard date back to the 1980s and continue until the mid-2000s.
Five anonymous women testified during trials, who claimed that they were lured to Nygard’s Toronto office under various pretenses such as office tours or job interviews. Each encounter concluded in a bedroom suite on the top floor where four of the women were subjected to sexual assault.
Several women stated similar stories of encountering Nygard on flights, at airport terminals, or in nightclubs before receiving an invitation to his office. All five confirmed that their meetings or interactions with Nygard resulted in non-consensual sexual activity.
Nygard's lawyer argued for a 6-year sentence, citing his client's age and health issues, while prosecutors desired a 15-year sentence.
Goldstein dismissed the request for a lighter sentence, citing special treatment accorded to Nygard in prison due to his medical complications, and asserting that his old age does not suffice to reduce the sentence.
The judge opined that Nygard intentionally exaggerated his health issues during trial submissions.
Nygard's lawyer had previously argued in court that a long prison term would be detrimental to her client's health, who has Type 2 diabetes and deteriorating eyesight, among other health problems.
Goldstein labeled Nygard as "a Canadian success story turned disastrous."
Nygard initiated a fashion company in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1967, which developed as Nygard International, known for producing women's clothing under various brand names. He had corporate facilities in Canada and the U.S. and had numerous stores located in Winnipeg, displaying his pictures.
Nygard resigned as the company chairman after the FBI and the police raided his New York City office in February 2020. Since then, the organization has applied for bankruptcy and entered receivership.
Nygard was initially arrested in Winnipeg in 2020 under the Extradition Act after being charged with nine counts in New York, including sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
In May, Manitoba's highest court rejected Nygard's appeal for judicial review of his extradition order, concluding that there was no rationale to interfere with the extradition order issued by the former minister of justice, David Lametti.
Despite Nygard's fashion business empire reaching heights with Nygard International, the court handed him an 11-year imprisonment due to his guilty verdict in sexual assault cases. Despite his lawyer's plea for leniency due to his health issues, the judge saw it as a mitigating but not sufficient circumstance.
