Reuters in Toronto
Peter Nygard, the former Canadian fashion mogul, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after being convicted on four counts of sexual assault. The 83-year-old was found guilty last November following a trial in which five women testified that Nygard had attacked them in a private bedroom suite in his Toronto office building between the late 1980s and early 2000s.
While Nygard was acquitted of one sexual assault charge and a count of forcible confinement, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him on the four counts of sexual assault. The sentence has been reduced to account for the time he has already served, leaving him with approximately 6.7 years left to serve. Nygard will be eligible for full parole after serving one-third of his sentence.
Nygard’s criminal activities were investigated by both Canadian and U.S. authorities. He was arrested in late 2020 in Canada at the request of the U.S., where he faces additional federal charges, including sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and transporting minors for the purpose of prostitution.
In his ruling, Justice Robert Goldstein described Nygard as a “sexual predator” who abused his position of power and wealth to exploit his victims. The case also highlights the long-running nature of his alleged crimes, spanning several decades and several locations, including his home province of Manitoba and his offices in other provinces.
In addition to his Toronto convictions, Nygard faces further charges in Manitoba and Quebec, where he is accused of similar crimes. His extradition to the U.S. remains pending as he continues to fight the charges in the United States.
Nygard, originally from Finland, built his fortune by founding the Nygard fashion empire and became one of Canada’s wealthiest individuals. However, his legacy is now marred by these serious criminal convictions, marking the fall of a once-prominent figure in the fashion industry.