Former Fort McMurray pediatrician convicted of possessing, transmitting youngster pornography

An Edmonton pediatrician has been discovered responsible of possessing and transmitting youngster pornography after a decide rejected claims a member of the family might need accessed the fabric.

Alberta Court docket of King’s Bench Justice Kent Davidson convicted Dr. Ghassan Al-Naami of the 2 offences Monday following a prolonged trial that started in January.

Al-Naami, who was allowed to stay on bail pending sentencing, regarded downcast as he exited the courtroom along with his lawyer.

The School of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) mentioned Al-Naami’s observe allow stays energetic, with supervisory circumstances.

Al-Naami was arrested at Edmonton Worldwide Airport on Aug. 11, 2019, as he returned from a visit to England along with his spouse and kids. Earlier that yr, police had discovered from the RCMP’s Nationwide Youngster Exploitation Crime Centre {that a} consumer, ultimately tracked to Al-Naami’s IP tackle, had downloaded and transferred a video of what seemed to be a prepubescent woman being sexually abused.

At no level was it instructed Al-Naami was the person within the video nor that offences have been dedicated towards sufferers in Al-Naami’s care.

Investigators obtained a warrant and searched the Al-Naami dwelling whereas the household was on trip. In addition they seized a variety of units from Al-Naami on the airport. Forensic evaluation of the units led to the invention of the video.

The clip included an grownup man and a younger woman, neither of whose faces have been seen. The evaluation additionally revealed sexually express Skype chat logs, by which a consumer related to Al-Naami’s laptop advised one other consumer he was watching a video of somebody having intercourse with minors.

The message requested if the opposite consumer want to see it, after which the Al-Naami account despatched the video. The account used was separate from Al-Naami’s regular Skype account, however included an image of him as its avatar, Davidson mentioned.

Davidson concluded the clip in query constituted youngster abuse materials, dismissing the defence’s suggestion the Crown had not confirmed the woman concerned was a minor. The decide estimated her age at between six and 11.

Al-Naami’s trial started in January and was delayed repeatedly by procedural points. Along with the cops concerned within the investigation, court docket heard from three of Al-Naami’s members of the family who have been referred to as to testify by the Crown.

Davidson mentioned the household witnesses have been “troublesome, unfriendly and combative” towards Crown prosecutor Parminder Johal — understandably so, he mentioned, given what they stood to lose within the occasion of Al-Naami’s conviction.

In contrast, they have been typically open to various theories proposed by the defence, Davidson mentioned.

Defence lawyer Ian McKay instructed another person with entry to Al-Naami’s units downloaded and shared the kid abuse materials. One of many members of the family testified that whereas he didn’t hunt down materials involving kids, he did entry pornography across the time of the offence.