SENTENCE INCREASED IN R. v. KHAWAJA

TORONTO – December 17, 2010 – The Ontario Court of Appeal today released its decision to increase Mohammad Momin Khawaja’s sentence to life imprisonment for his role in a terrorist bomb plot.

The Court concluded that the trial judge erred by imposing a 10.5 year sentence in addition to the four and a half years served in pre-trial custody. The Public Prosecution Service of Canada launched its appeal after reviewing the sentencing decision. Maximum penalties for the offences range from 10 years to life imprisonment. The decision to appeal was guided by policy in the FPS Deskbook, which is a public document.

On October 29, 2008, Momin Khawaja was found guilty of several Criminal Code and terrorism-related offences including the development of a remote bomb detonating device.

The Court of Appeal today recognized that terrorism is a global threat to peace and security, and that innocent lives around the world must be protected from terrorists, wherever they are based. The Court clearly stated that Canada is not a safe haven for would-be terrorists.

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada is responsible for prosecuting offences under federal jurisdiction in a manner that is free of any improper influence and that respects the public interest. The PPSC is also responsible for providing prosecution-related advice to law enforcement agencies across Canada.

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