Montreal woman convicted of joining ISIS
In what federal prosecutors are describing as a legal first, a 29-year-old Montreal woman was convicted this week of providing support to a terrorist entity through family support as a spouse.
In a communiqué, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) said that Oumaima Chouay was convicted on Monday, July 21 after admitting to travelling to Syria to join the ranks of Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS), 'knowing that her expected role would include marrying an ISIS fighter and raising children under the ISIS doctrine.'
The PPSC added, however, that Chouay 'is not suspected of having participated directly in terrorist activities, namely actual combat.'
Joint submissions on sentencing from the prosecution and defence saw Chouay sentenced Monday to one day of custody, in addition to the 110 days she served in pretrial detention, as well as a three-year probation order.
Chouay was also ordered to avoid 'all direct or indirect contact with people and entities associated to extremism,' and she will be required to continue her participation in 'depolarization therapy.'
The PPSC wrote that 'independent psychiatric and psychological experts in the field of terrorism evaluated Chouay's progress over the past 30 and a half months and concluded that the risk of recidivism and dangerousness is very low.' It added that the RCMP-led Integrated National Security Enforcement Team 'shared the assessment that she does not present a significant risk to Canadian society.'

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The Province
2 hours ago
- The Province
B.C. sea cucumber poacher gets six-year sentence for 'ravaging the ocean'
Scott Steer and his co-accused corporation faced eight charges Published Jul 29, 2025 • Last updated 4 hours ago • 4 minute read Sea cucumber A B.C. judge has sentenced the man with the longest record of Fisheries Act violations in Canadian history to six years in prison for 'ravaging the ocean and flouting the law.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Scott Steer and his co-accused corporation faced eight charges including fishing in a closed area without a licence, selling more than $1 million worth of illegally harvested sea cucumbers and breaching an earlier order forbidding him from possessing fishing vessels. Steer's co-accused in the case was a numbered company owned by his wife, Melissa Steer, but the company was found to be a 'sham.' Undated Nanaimo RCMP handout photo of Scott Steer who has been found guilty of illegally harvesting and selling sea cucumbers. Photo by Handout / Nanaimo RCMP B.C. Supreme Court Justice David Crerar in Nanaimo said in his ruling that Steer has a 'remarkably long record' of fisheries violations and other offences dating back more than a decade, and short stints in jail have 'wholly failed to deter or rehabilitate' him. The ruling notes that Steer, who was convicted of all eight charges had 34 prior convictions from 13 cases dating back to 2008. He was also charged for illegally harvesting sea cucumbers between July 2019 and March 2020. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In March 2020, Steer was caught illegally harvesting more than 500 kilograms of crabs in Vancouver harbour. When he refused to stop for coast guard, officials boarded his vessel at high speed where they found Steer and two associations on board with 300 crabs and four commercial crab traps. This resulted in a 2021 conviction for illegal crab fishing. His prior offences include defrauding a vessel owner, breaching conditions in a case of intimate-partner violence and various probation violations. Steer was banned from fishing for 10 years in 2013, when his wife told the court her husband's actions were 'uncharacteristic' and regrettable. He sought a more lenient sentence by claiming he'd be rehabilitated. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The Steers' actions and ongoing breaches since that date indicate that their statements to the court were cynical self-serving falsehoods,' Crerar's ruling in the new case says. Crerar's ruling says Steer and his wife continued their illegal fishing operations even while his trial was taking place. Steer's persistent 'knowing and mocking flouting of the law' indicates the 'unlikelihood of remorse or rehabilitation, now or in future.' The ruling says Steer told a witness during the trial that it was 'pointless' and a 'waste of time,' and that he gave evidence in court that was 'clearly and deliberately false.' 'The offenders' misconduct in this regard was not limited to the trial on this matter. It spanned the entirety of this prosecution,' Crerar's ruling says. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The judge found Steer's long record and repeated Fisheries Act violations 'highly aggravating' in sentencing. 'The Crown understands Mr Steer's record to be the longest record of Fisheries Act violations in Canadian history. Warnings, fines, prohibitions, and multiple incarceration sentences of various lengths have all failed to deter or reform Mr. Steer,' the ruling says. The judge said Steer breached four prohibition orders in his latest list of offences, which 'further illustrates his contempt for the court process, as well as the futility of protecting the public and marine resources through further prohibitions or less intrusive means reliant on his voluntary compliance and reform.' The judge found Steer's operation was 'complex' and involved multiple co-conspirators, and the 'scale and sophistication' of it was illustrated by the more than $1 million in illegal sea cucumber sales at the heart of the case. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The sales were made in 2019, while the illegal fishing charges involved 11,000 kilograms of sea cucumbers that year. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says sea cucumbers are considered a medicinal food in Asia, with China being the biggest export market. It is a 'limited entry fishery' in B.C., restricted to a few dozen commercial licence holders who can only harvest by hand for eight weeks a year. Judge Crerar's ruling says Steer sought leniency based on the needs of his family, including his four children with his wife and another child from her previous relationship. The ruling says other judges had warned Steer in past cases about consequences for his family due to him being sent to jail. 'Steer continued in his illegal fishing operations with eyes wide open to the likely consequences of his illegal activities on his family life,' Crerar's ruling says. 'It is through his voluntary actions that he is separated from his family.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The ruling says Steer believes himself 'unbound by laws' and that short stints in jail as punishments are 'literally a joke.' Crerar gave Steer six years in prison and also fined him and his company $1.1 million 'specifically to condemn the Steers' deliberate, destructive, and dishonest actions.' In 2021, Postmedia reported on the province's attempt to seize a Gabriola Island home and more than $1.3 million in cash from Steer, saying the cash and home are proceeds of illegal fishing and money laundering. The Gabriola home, at the time, was valued at $622,000 and listed as being owned by Steer's mother in law. However, the civil forfeiture claim alleges Diane Gail Butz was a nominee owner and that Steer and his wife were the beneficial or true owners. Butz later filed a response arguing against the forfeiture of the Gabriola property and in 2022, the province discontinued the action against Butz's home. With files from Postmedia News Read More News Vancouver Whitecaps Sports Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks


Toronto Sun
5 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Chile hands luxury watches stolen from Keanu Reeves over to FBI
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Global News
5 hours ago
- Global News
Number of active extortion investigations in Surrey jumps to 26
Surrey police say the number of extortion cases they're investigating has nearly tripled since the start of June. The Surrey Police Service (SPS) launched its own dedicated counter-extortion team in early June. At the time, the SPS had 10 extortion files on the docket from this year; since then, the number has climbed to 26. SPS Sgt. Tige Pollock said the number doesn't represent a 'spike,' adding that some of the reports are for incidents that may not have happened recently. But he said it does suggest that victims are getting more comfortable talking to police. 4:36 Crime Stoppers taking tips from extortion victims 'There was a public forum that was held by some community members, the province has provided some money to Crime Stoppers for an extortion tip line, as well as Surrey Police Service has rolled out its own extortion investigation team,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'I think these factors help in the public feeling comfortable coming forward, and when they understand that police are taking this seriously, then they feel comfortable to report.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Shootings and other violent incidents linked — or suspected of links — to extortion have rattled the Lower Mainland, and particularly the South Asian business community. 4:07 RCMP reveal few details about arrests made in Surrey extortion investigation In June, an Abbotsford man with no known criminal ties was gunned down in his Surrey office, further stoking fears. Earlier this month, RCMP announced it had arrested two Surrey residents in connection with firearms, arson and extortion-related offences, but no one has been charged. That has drawn frustration from some in the community who point to the arrest and charge of multiple people in Alberta and Ontario communities also plagued by extortionists. Story continues below advertisement In Edmonton, police held a town hall on Monday night, warning of a second wave of extortion cases and calling it a resurgence. Interim Chief of police Warren Driechel said the attacks in Edmonton had stopped after several suspects were arrested in 2024 in connection to about 40 extortions and arsons targeting affluent South Asian homebuilders and business owners. 1:55 B.C. government launches extortion awareness campaign But since May, he said six more similar cases have been reported, leading investigators to believe the attacks are back and that there may be more victims. The RCMP formed the National Coordination and Support Team (NCST) last year, with the goal of supporting extortion investigations across the country. Supt Adam MacIntosh, officer in charge of the NCST, said it is critical that victims report all extortion attempts to police, and that above all, they don't pay. Story continues below advertisement 'The fact that they (the extortions) are continuing supports that people are paying, and the reason for that is because the organized crime groups involved are making money, and they wouldn't be making money and it wouldn't be continuing if it wasn't lucrative,' he said. 'It's a scary position to be in as an individual, as a member of a family, to be facing threats. But we need people to understand that they need to overcome that fear and report to us what's occurring.' — with files from the Canadian Press