Tuesday, December 23, 2025
ADVT 
National

Lawyers for alleged B.C. hijacker get more time to prepare bail application

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Aug, 2025 11:07 AM
  • Lawyers for alleged B.C. hijacker get more time to prepare bail application

The man accused of hijacking a plane and triggering a security scare at Vancouver International Airport last month appeared briefly at a provincial court in Richmond, B.C., where his lawyers were granted an adjournment.

Shaheer Cassim attended the court virtually from Surrey Pretrial Centre wearing an orange sweatsuit.

He acknowledged he could see and hear the judge, and sat with his hands on his knees throughout the short video appearance, which lasted less than five minutes.

An articling student representing Cassim's defence lawyer, Kevin Westell, asked the court for a two-week adjournment as they continue to prepare a bail application.

The agent confirmed Cassim had agreed to remain in custody until his next appearance, which the judge scheduled for Sept. 2.

Cassim is a former commercial pilot who faces charges for allegedly taking a small aircraft from Victoria's airport on July 15 and flying it over the Vancouver airport before he was arrested upon landing.

The 39-year-old has been in custody at the pretrial facility in Surrey since his arrest and his court files have been placed under publication bans. 

He's been charged with hijacking, which is an offence constituting terrorism, and with damaging or interfering with a navigation system.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

MORE National ARTICLES

Eby says government can't interfere in RCMP probe of leaked document

Eby says government can't interfere in RCMP probe of leaked document
Premier David Eby has rejected Opposition accusations that his government went after a whistleblower, while suggesting more effort should go into investigating problems in opioid prescriptions that they highlighted rather than the source of the leaks.

Eby says government can't interfere in RCMP probe of leaked document

Almost half of Canadians say Carney 'stood up' for country in Trump meeting: poll

Almost half of Canadians say Carney 'stood up' for country in Trump meeting: poll
A new poll suggests nearly half of Canadians think Prime Minister Mark Carney "stood up" for Canada in his recent face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Almost half of Canadians say Carney 'stood up' for country in Trump meeting: poll

PM Carney travelling to Rome Friday for Pope Leo's inaugural mass

PM Carney travelling to Rome Friday for Pope Leo's inaugural mass
Prime Minister Mark Carney is heading to Rome on Friday to attend Pope Leo's inaugural mass.

PM Carney travelling to Rome Friday for Pope Leo's inaugural mass

Despite a polarizing election, poll suggests Canadians don't want a two-party system

Despite a polarizing election, poll suggests Canadians don't want a two-party system
While the recent federal election turned into a tight race between the Liberals and Conservatives that left other parties trailing far behind, a new poll suggests most Canadians don't want the country end up with a two-party system.

Despite a polarizing election, poll suggests Canadians don't want a two-party system

Canadian youth struggle with making friends and bullying: UNICEF report

Canadian youth struggle with making friends and bullying: UNICEF report
A global study from UNICEF suggests many Canadian kids are unhappy, with social struggles such as bullying and difficulty making friends among the sources of their anguish. 

Canadian youth struggle with making friends and bullying: UNICEF report

Woman faces more questions from prosecutors in hockey players' trial

Woman faces more questions from prosecutors in hockey players' trial
A woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team is facing more questions from prosecutors today.

Woman faces more questions from prosecutors in hockey players' trial