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Assault charges against Calgary businessman Riaz Mamdani dropped

Kate Abbott and Riaz Mamdani in 2019.
Kate Abbott and Riaz Mamdani in 2019. Courtesy, Kate Abbott

An assault charge against Calgary businessman Riaz Mamdani has been dropped.

Mamdani is a well-known Calgary real estate mogul and nearly died in a shooting in 2016.

He was charged on Nov. 28, 2021 following an argument with his girlfriend Kate Abbott at his Mount Royal home.

In a statement to Global News, Mamdani said he feels vindicated by the Crown’s decision to unconditionally withdraw the charges against him.

“While I am disappointed that it took this long, I am happy that the process led to this inevitable positive outcome. I have waited months while the Crown reviewed the facts,” Mamdani said.

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“This is about honesty, integrity and, sadly, greed. These allegations were made alongside absurd claims for more than a million dollars a year in spousal support by a woman I did not live with and a six-figure demand for child-support for her child of a previous relationship.”

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The Strategic Group CEO and philanthropist said, “What I have learned from this process and recent similar events in the media, is that consequences of even a meritless allegation can be as damaging as a conviction. In some ways, the accusation is the sentence.

Mamdani said he’s filed a fraud claim against Abbott and intends to pursue a defamation action.

Click to play video: 'Calgary businessman Riaz Mamdani charged with assault; alleged victim speaks out'
Calgary businessman Riaz Mamdani charged with assault; alleged victim speaks out

In a statement, Abbott said she’s shocked over the decision made by the Crown Prosecutor’s office.

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“I did not lay the charges, I did not even ask for them to be laid. In love and support of all those who have ever suffered from any form of domestic violence, let’s be very clear: this decision diminishes the efforts to support victims and to prosecute this form of abuse,” Abbott said.

“My story is far from over. While I continue to work hard to recover and rebuild my life, my goal will remain to advocate for social change and legal reform — so that one day, in these instances, true justice will be served.”  Abbott said.

In a letter to Abbott, the Crown said the decision to withdrawn the charge was based on reasonable likelihood of conviction and if there is a public interest in the prosecution proceeding.

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