Ghomeshi granted two changes to bail conditions in past year

Jian Ghomeshi twice asked for and was granted changes to his bail conditions in the past year.

The Ontario Attorney General’s office confirmed to Global News at 5:55 p.m. Friday that the variations occurred, but wouldn’t say what those changes were.

To get that information, contact the court support office at Old City Hall, Attorney General spokesperson Brendan Crawley said in an email responding to a Global News request from Thursday.

READ MORE: ‘It came from out of nowhere’: Actress describes being told Jian Ghomeshi choked Lucy DeCoutere

Old City Hall, and all other provincial institutions, are closed until Tuesday morning due to the Family Day long weekend.

Ghomeshi’s original bail conditions were to live with his mother at her home, to surrender his passport, and to not have any contact or be within 500 metres of the complainants in the case.

The first change to those conditions was made May 28, 2015, signed by Justice Rebecca Rutherford; the second was made on July 21, 2015 signed by Justice Timothy R. Lipson.

Ghomeshi has since been allowed to move out of his mother’s home, and to leave the country twice, according to a Canadaland report.

The former CBC radio host was first charged in November 2014 with four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcoming resistance by choking.

Three more charges were later laid against Ghomeshi, and two dropped.

Ghomeshi has denied all the charges.

He was released on $100,000 bail.

“At any time a bail order may be varied if there is a change in circumstances of the accused or the surety. In appropriate circumstances, the Crown may consent to reasonable bail variations requested by the accused,” Crawley wrote Friday.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "At any time a bail order may be varied if there is a change in circumstances of the accused or the surety. In appropriate circumstances, the Crown may consent to reasonable bail variations requested by the accused," Crawley wrote Friday.

READ MORE: How the Jian Ghomeshi trial has ‘changed forever’ the conversation about sexual assault in Canada

“When the Crown considers its position on bail or on a variation, the Crown must balance a range of interests, including: the protection of the community, the reputation of the administration of justice, public perception of the criminal justice process, society’s interest in ensuring that accused persons attend court and the liberty interest of the accused.

“The decision on whether or not to allow a variation is ultimately made by the judge or the justice of the peace.”

The trial against the former CBC radio host played out in a Toronto court room over the past two weeks before closing arguments on Thursday; the judge has reserved his judgement until March 24.

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