TORONTO—Peter Nygard, the Canadian fashion and retailing executive, agreed to be extradited to the U.S., where he faces charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
Mr. Nygard, who is 80, on Friday morning granted his consent to extradition, more than nine months after he was indicted in Manhattan federal court and arrested in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
U.S. prosecutors have accused him of criminal conduct involving dozens of victims in the U.S., Canada and the Bahamas.
Mr. Nygard wasn’t in the courtroom in Winnipeg, but appeared via a video feed from jail. A monitor set to the side of the courtroom showed him wearing a blue mask and sitting in a blue room, according to a video of Friday’s hearing posted by the Manitoba Courts.
Mr. Nygard’s lawyer, Brian Greenspan, said in court that Mr. Nygard maintains his innocence.
“This process can now move forward in order for him to face trial in the United States on an expedited basis, and for him to have an opportunity to raise his defense and to challenge the truthfulness of the evidence which has been brought against him,” said Mr. Greenspan.
Mr. Nygard founded the closely held apparel company Nygard International in Canada in 1967. He stepped down as chairman last year, after his offices were raided in Manhattan as part of an international sex-trafficking probe.
It is unclear when Mr. Nygard will go to the U.S. The Toronto Police Service on Friday said it has issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Nygard’s arrest. He will be charged in Toronto with six counts of sexual assault and three counts of forcible confinement, according to a Toronto Police press release.
Mr. Greenspan said during a briefing with reporters on Friday broadcast by local networks that it is up to Canada’s federal government to decide how it wants to handle the situation.
The minister of justice could either await the outcome of the Canadian charges or send him to the U.S. with assurances that he will be returned to face charges in Canada, Mr. Greenspan said.
Write to Vipal Monga at [email protected]
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