5th man arrested in relation to attack on Elnaz Hajtamiri

After the arrest of the fourth man in relation to the kidnapping of 37-year-old Elnaz Hajtamiri last month, a fifth man was arrested in relation to a separate incident, an alleged frying pan-attack on the 37-year-old that left her hospitalised, York Regional Police detailed on Tuesday.

After the aforementioned attack, which reportedly occurred inside a parking lot, Hajtamiri was allegedly admitted to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

In relation to the attack on Hajtamiri, on March 1, 25-year-old Akash Rana of Delta, B.C. was detained and consequently charged with aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, according to York Regional Police.

According to media reports, Rana is set to be presented before the Newmarket court on Thursday.

The Ontario Provincial Police had previously offered a $100,000 reward to anyone providing information relevant to the kidnapping of Elnaz Hajtamiri, who was reportedly kidnapped from a residence in Wasaga Beach, Ontario last year.

The OPP’s offer still remains.

37-year-old Elnaz Hajtamiri was forcibly taken from a relative’s house by three masked men dressed in police gear at night on January 12, 2022. Hajtamiri was then taken away by the men in a white, 2016 to 2022-model, Lexus RX 350 SUV, according to media reports

Hajtamiri’s reported boyfriend, 35-year-old Mohamad Lilo, as well as two other suspects, Riyasat Singh and Harshdeep Binner, were previously charged with attempted murder and attempted kidnapping.