SASKATOON – Charges laid against a University of Saskatchewan student accused of stealing chemicals from the school have been dropped.
Global News has learned Mohamadmahdi Kowsari has been back on campus and attending classes since early February.
The 25-year-old was charged with theft under $5,000 last October after police seized a small amount of sulfuric acid from his home.
He was subsequently banned from campus and suspended by the president of the university.
A memo was sent to faculty, staff and students at the college of engineering last month, advising them that the suspension previously imposed by president Ilene Busch-Vishniac on Oct. 24, as well as his ban from campus, had been removed following a Senate hearing board meeting.
On Oct. 23, a concern had been raised about chemicals in one of the labs in the engineering building. It was brought to the university’s attention through the student crisis intervention process.
Saskatoon Police Service was brought in and additional precautionary measures were taken. All charges initially laid against Kowsari have been dropped.
An official statement from the university reads: “The Senate Hearing Board determined that the student does not pose a risk to others and can therefore return to his program of studies and the university campus.”
The board decision was reached on Feb. 7.
“The university takes any matter that threatens the safety of the university very seriously. With respect to any threat, the U of S has protocols it follows with respect to threats and these protocols were followed in this situation. At the time of this incident, the university acted based on our obligation to the safety of the entire campus community,” the statement continued.
Details of the investigation and the Senate hearing board meeting are not being released.
School officials admit some concerns have been raised about Kowsari’s return to campus, but they maintain the safety of all students is a top priority.
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