A 37-year-old realtor from Brampton, Ont., has pled guilty in a 2023 child abduction case in the Town of Thessalon.
Manoj Govindbalunikam entered his guilty plea Wednesday afternoon on the charge of abduction of a person under 14 by taking or enticing.
Represented in person at Sault Ste. Marie Superior Court by attorney Jessica Belisle, he attended virtually from southern Ontario.
The case stems from an Aug. 15, 2023, incident, where he lured a nine-year-old boy into his vehicle.
During the hearing, Crown attorney Adrianna Mucciarelli read out the agreed statement of facts outlining the details of what took place the day of the incident.
A publication ban prevents the reporting of any details that may identify the minor, including names of witnesses.
The court heard Govindbalunikam first encountered the boy at the mouth of the Thessalon River, where the man had been taking pictures.
A short while later, the man approached the boy who had been fishing, offering him a fidget spinner toy and his real estate business card, claiming he was in the area looking at properties.
A pair of kayakers saw the interaction and phoned police, making note of the yellow Chevrolet Camaro with racing stripes.
When the child left alone on his bicycle, Govindbalunikam followed him with his car, asking if the boy wanted a ride home and to stop for ice cream.
He told the boy to leave his bike and fishing equipment nearby at the local curling club, saying it wouldn’t fit in his car.
FULL ARTICLE: https://www.ctvnews.ca/northern-ontario/article/brampton-man-37-pleads-guilty-in-thessalon-child-abduction-case/
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