Friday, December 19, 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

Police intelligence behind B.C. call for Bishnoi gang's terror listing: minister

Police intelligence behind B.C. call for Bishnoi gang's terror listing: minister
Garry Begg, who is also solicitor general, said Thursday that the provincial government was providing $100,000 to set up a 60-day Crime Stoppers awareness campaign for victims in an effort to encourage witnesses to come forward.

Police intelligence behind B.C. call for Bishnoi gang's terror listing: minister

B.C.'s Interior health authority confirms additional measles cases

B.C.'s Interior health authority confirms additional measles cases
The update comes after the health authority issued a statement on Tuesday saying it had confirmed a single measles case in Kamloops.

B.C.'s Interior health authority confirms additional measles cases

B.C. police watchdog calls hearing into officers' 'racist, sexist' WhatsApp group

B.C. police watchdog calls hearing into officers' 'racist, sexist' WhatsApp group
Prabhu Rajan says the allegations "go to the heart of public trust in policing" and the public hearing will also delve into a constitutional challenge filed in court last year by five of the subject officers. 

B.C. police watchdog calls hearing into officers' 'racist, sexist' WhatsApp group

Trump 'terminating' trade talks with Canada, threatens tariffs over Ottawa's digital services tax

Trump 'terminating' trade talks with Canada, threatens tariffs over Ottawa's digital services tax
Trump made the comments in a post on his social media account this afternoon.

Trump 'terminating' trade talks with Canada, threatens tariffs over Ottawa's digital services tax

Statistics Canada says real GDP down 0.1 per cent in April as manufacturing slowed

TD economist Marc Ercolao said the downside risks to Canada's economic growth are beginning to manifest, especially in tariff-exposed sectors. 

Statistics Canada says real GDP down 0.1 per cent in April as manufacturing slowed

Federal minister plans to hold consultations this summer on immigration intake

Federal minister plans to hold consultations this summer on immigration intake
An Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada spokeswoman says the government expects schools to only accept students they can "reasonably support" by providing housing and other services.

Federal minister plans to hold consultations this summer on immigration intake