The Brampton man accused of abducting a nine-year-old boy in Thessalon last year will face a two-week trial next fall.
Manoj Govindbalunikam, 36, was arrested in August of 2023 by Sault Ste. Marie OPP after allegedly approaching a boy who was fishing in Thessalon, offering him a toy and taking him for ice cream in his yellow Camaro. He is facing one count of abduction of a person under 14 (take or entice).
Govindbalunikam has not been convicted of the charge and is considered innocent until proven guilty.
The accused was not required to appear in a Sault Ste. Marie courtroom on Wednesday for the setting of trial dates, but was represented by his defence attorney Jessica Belisle.
Appearing before Justice Brian DeLorenzi, crown attorney Lindsey Santerre requested two weeks to be set aside for trial, with an additional three days required for pre-trial motions.
The trial was scheduled for the weeks of Oct. 13 and Oct. 20, 2025. Govindbalunikam's defence has elected for a trial by judge alone.
Govindbalunikam is currently on bail, with conditions that he be under a curfew from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and be prohibited from attending public parks or swimming areas. He must also remain away from the municipality of Thessalon except to drive through to attend trial and cannot be in communication with the victim and his family.
He was also ordered to surrender his passport to Peel Regional Police and was required to pledge $10,000 toward bail, with an additional $5,000 by his surety. Govindbalunikam is banned from having prohibited weapons and cannot be in a position of trust with a person under 16 years of age.
An officer with East Algoma OPP detachment told SooToday after the Aug. 16, 2023 arrest that the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction were "bizarre," but that the boy was ultimately found unharmed.