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August 24, 2022 • 1 hour ago • 2 minutes read • 6 comments Police are investigating a shooting in the 100 block of Everwoods Court SW on Thursday, August 18, 2022. Jim Wells/Postmedia
Content of the article
The Calgary man critically injured in an ambush that killed his wife is facing criminal charges including participating in or contributing to the activities of a criminal organization.
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Content of the article
Talal Fouani is charged with participating in a criminal organization, money laundering and possession of stolen property over $5,000, according to court documents.
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Content of the article
Fouani, 46, and his wife, Nakita Baron, 31, were attacked in a neighbor’s driveway in the Evergreen community shortly after 8 a.m. on Aug. 18 and shot repeatedly with his Bentley car, at the gates of his home on Everwoods Court SW.
Fouani was taken to the hospital in a life-threatening condition, where he remains. Baron, who died in the ambush, had recently been studying at Mount Royal University and was pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor.
Police said a man is believed to have approached her car and fired several shots into the vehicle before fleeing the scene in an SUV, described as a black 2017-2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse.
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Content of the article
The suspect was described as approximately 25 to 35 years old, five feet eight inches to six feet tall and 180 pounds with a medium build, wearing a dark blue helmet, with a dark hood, bright orange shirt, vest reflective yellow and dark colored pants.
Calgary police on Wednesday asked the public to come forward with any information they may have about the shooting or the suspect described, asking that people call the non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or submit tips anonymously to through Crime Stoppers.
Talal Fouani and Nakita Baron. Photo by Nakita Baron/Instagram
Fouani faces criminal charges related to the June arrest of the venture capitalist, his younger brother Belal Fouani, 44, and sister Lina El-Chammoury, 50, who also goes by the name Lina Chammoury.
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Content of the article
The two brothers face three charges: laundering the proceeds of drug trafficking, possession of cash obtained from drug trafficking and participating in or contributing to the activities of a criminal organization by laundering the proceeds of crime.
El-Chammoury faces the first two allegations.
According to court documents that granted them bail on June 14, the brothers are prohibited from contacting a group of 23 named people.
An Internet review of those identified found articles indicating 10 people with the same name faced serious drug charges in recent years.
Fouani was a crucial witness at an Alberta Securities Commission hearing three years ago into allegations of a “pump and dump” scheme in which traders manipulated share prices.
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Although the commission found that Cem (Jim) Can and Charles Michael Miller committed fraud in the trading of shares of Bluforest Inc., its panel was not impressed with Fouani’s testimony.
“Fouani was not a credible witness,” a three-member panel said in its written decision.
“He tried to minimize his involvement in Bluforest, which he claimed was merely introducing Can to certain people when he and Can were ‘friends.'” He stated that he did not know what the respondents were doing and did not think anything untoward was going on. ·legal or inappropriate,” they said.
“In light of his demeanor, evasive and unresponsive answers, and poor memory, we gave very little weight to his testimony unless it was corroborated by reliable evidence.”
The brothers are scheduled to face trial in September and October 2023.
Police have not released a possible motive for the shootings of Fouani and Baron.
KMartin@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @KMartinCourts
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