WARMINGTON: Nygard 'ready to fight' U.S. sex-trafficking allegations, says lawyer

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Peter Nygard not only is claiming his innocence but is confident he will be cleared of all the charges against him.

“He is ready to fight,” Winnipeg criminal lawyer Jay Prober said in an interview.

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“He’s ready to fight these charges. Peter Nygard vehemently denies the allegations.” 

The Finnish-born fashion mogul was arrested Monday night at his Winnipeg home when the RCMP came to his door with the extradition warrant.

“They were very pleasant,” Prober said. “I talked with two of them. There was no issue.”

While Mounties were not expected, Prober said Nygard “knew there was an investigation going on in the United States,” so it was not a total surprise.

The United States Justice Department has accused the Canadian fashion designer of financial crimes and operating a sex-trafficking ring.

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“He says he’s innocent and he fully expects to be vindicated in the end,” said Prober, who added the “judge also was very clear to strongly remind (everyone) about the presumption of innocence.”

But before extradition or criminal proceedings, Prober says Nygard wants a bail hearing as soon as possible, ideally before his next court date in January.

He expressed concern about Nygard’s safety inside jail during a pandemic.

“He’s 79 years old and with his pre-existing health conditions, he is susceptible to contracting COVID-19,” said Prober. “It’s a precarious situation.”

Prober said court proceedings will reveal Nygard has “plenty of support” in his quest of trying to prove he’s innocent of the troubling allegations levied against him.

“I don’t look at the volume of charges but the quality of them,” said Prober. “It will all come out in court.”