RCMP officer facing charges of assault and sexual assault
Cst. Osama Ibrahim of Western Valley Region detachment charged following
alleged incident in Saint John
An RCMP officer of the Western Valley Region detachment in Woodstock is
facing serious criminal charges, including sexual assault.
The Nova Scotia Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) confirmed laying
charges against Cst. Osama Ibrahim in Saint John provincial court.
The charges relate to alleged offences in Saint John between Dec. 1,
2021, and Feb. 23, 2022.
The five charges allege sexual assault, assault, the use of or threat to
use a weapon during an assault, choking during an assault and breach of
trust on a female known to him.
In a press release, the Saint John Police Force reported receiving a
complaint involving criminal allegations against an RCMP officer on
April 29, 2022, surrounding an incident in Saint John.
Saint John police said they notified New Brunswick RCMP and began an
investigation.
On May 31, 2022, as a result of its initial investigation and the nature
of the allegations, the Saint John Police Force referred the matter to
SiRT for further investigation.
SiRT is an investigative agency, independent of the police, whose
mandate is to investigate matters that involve death, serious injury,
sexual assault and domestic violence or other matters of significant
public interest that may have arisen from the actions of any police
officer.
In a media release on Sept. 27, the New Brunswick RCMP issued a
statement regarding the SiRT charges.
“These are very serious allegations, and the New Brunswick RCMP is
treating them as such. From the outset, the New Brunswick RCMP has been
fully cooperating with the investigation by Saint John Police Force and
by the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT).
“The member in question was placed on administrative duties effective
Feb. 22, 2022, as a result of a separate code of conduct complaint that
is currently being investigated by the RCMP Professional Standards
Unit.”
The RCMP says the force suspended the officer with pay, effective June
3, 2022, due to the SiRT investigation, which has also resulted in
additional code of conduct allegations. As the employer, the RCMP stated
it would proceed with appropriate actions pending the outcome of the
legal proceedings.
The RCMP release said the force expects members to hold themselves to a
high moral and professional standard.
“We understand and respect the impact it can have on public trust when
there is any allegation that a member has not met the standard that our
communities deserve,” the RCMP release stated. “We will continue to
support any further investigation and the ongoing criminal proceedings
in order to ensure full accountability and transparency to the people of
New Brunswick.”
The RCMP said it could not comment further during the independent SIRT
investigation and ongoing criminal proceedings.
