MONTREAL — Nejib Belhaj-Chtioui is expected to find out whether he can be released on bail on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old man is facing terrorism-related charges after his arrest at Pierre-Elliott Trudeau International Airport on Sunday.
According to Quebec provincial police, an investigation began into the activities of Belhaj-Chtioui following a post made on Facebook in May 2011.
“The investigation began in May 2011 after a report on Facebook,” Sûreté du Québec spokesperson Audrey-Anne Bilodeau told Global News.
She said that while Belhaj-Chtioui was a Canadian citizen, and had visited Montreal previously, police did not consider him a permanent resident of Montreal.
However, his personal Facebook page suggests that he attended the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and worked with Bell Canada.
She noted that he would face two charges related to 83.231 of the Criminal Code (Hoax regarding criminal activity): conveying information and committing an act to cause reasonable concern that it is connected to a terrorist activity, and he could face up to five years in prison if found guilty.
Belhaj-Chtioui was arrested upon his return from Tunisia and is expected to appear in court in Montreal on Monday afternoon.
As the case is under investigation, Sûreté du Québec officials would not provide further details on the nature of the hoax, the charges or the arrest.
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