By: Staff Writer
January 1, 2021
The lawyer for jailed Canadian fashion mogul, Peter Nygard, says that it is too early to say if Bahamian officials will be called in as witnesses in his possible upcoming trial.
Jay Prober, speaking to Caribbean Magazine Plus said that it is “premature” if Bahamian officials will be called in as witnesses to testify on his client’s behalf. Further indicating that he and his client are just at the bail hearing phase of this and right now they are focusing on getting Mr Nygard bail on January 6 and then further fighting his extradition to the United States.
Mr Prober also said that while Mr Nygard’s bail hearing is set for January 6, there is a good likelihood that Mr Nygard will be released on bail and then the next steps are to “contest the extradition proceedings to the United States.”
Mr Nygard currently sitting in a Winnipeg, Canada jail cell has spent his Christmas in prison. Earlier reports stated that Mr Nygard’s next court appointed date would be on January 13, but that apparently has changed as per Mr Nygard’s lawyer statement to us.
It was announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for Southern New York, on December 15 that Mr Nygard had received a nine-count, 24 page indictment charging the Canadian with racketeering, sex trafficking and related crimes arising out of a decades-long pattern of criminal conduct involving at least dozens of victims in the United States, the Bahamas, and Canada, among other locations.
The unsealed indictment alleges that: “At all times, Peter Nygard and employees of Mr Nygard used company funds and resources to “influence, recruit, entice, transport, harbour and maintain adult and minor-aged female victims for Nygard’s sexual gratification” and on occasion the gratification of Mr Nygard’s friends and associates.
Photo taken 2005 at Nygard’s Bahamas mansion
The indictment also alleges that Mr Nygard’s enterprise, including those in Canada, the United States and The Bahamas primarily, were mere fronts for Mr Nygard’s alleged racketeering exercises. In addition, it alleges that Mr Nygard operated “sex swop” and “pamper parties” from The Bahamas to Califorina, USA where women were trafficked and “coerced” to have sex with him and his associates.
This leads the question of whether or not the U.S. Attorney’s Office will call for further witnesses when and if Mr Nygard’s trial in the U.S. takes place, which may be a possibility because the indictment also alleges that Mr Nygard and his co-conspirators were involved in an “enterprise” to further bolster the image of Mr Nygard and for the promotion of all of his pursuits.
Attempts to get a response form the U.S. Attorney’s office have proven unsuccessful at this point.
In previous lawsuits however, Nygard has been accused of hosting these same “pamper parties” at Nygard Cay, his sprawling Mayan-inspired waterfront estate in the Bahamas’ Lyford Cay enclave. After offering free food, alcohol and spa services, Nygard was said to have used a “girlfriend” or another employee to approach a chosen woman or girl to relay Nygard’s interest in sex. Nygard then allegedly engaged in sexual activity on the premises and paid her cash.