KAWARTHA LAKES-The family of Soleiman Faqiri is devastated once again to learn no charges will be laid in the death of their loved one.
“It has been the 2nd longest 24 hours my family has ever experienced. After two investigations we learn that no charges will be laid on those that have murdered Soleiman Faqiri.” the family said in a facebook post today.
The family says Soleiman Faqiri was a straight-A student at the University of Waterloo when he was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2005. On December 4, 2016 Faqiri, who was 30 years old at the time, was housed temporarily at the Central East Correctional Centre (CECC) in Lindsay, Ontario, while awaiting medical evaluation and a bed at the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health in Whitby, Ontario according to the family.
The family claims during the time that Faqiri was at the CECC his family was denied a chance to visit their son and brother. On December 15, 2016, eleven days after he entered the CECC, the family received word that Soleiman was dead.
A coroner’s report found that Soleiman had a number of bruises on his body. The report also found that Soleiman’s hands and legs were bound, pepper spray had twice been used on his face and he was wearing a spit hood.
A number of staff were suspended and two were reportedly fired.
A police source we talked to who was involved in the investigation told Kawartha 411 News that the Correctional Officers at the jail acted within the laws and the guidelines set out by the Ministry.
The coroner deemed the cause of Soleiman’s death “unascertained,” and the Kawartha Lakes Police Service, which conducted the initial investigation, announced in October 2017 that no charges would be filed against any CECC officers. Last week the OPP came to the same conclusion.
In 2019 the OPP was asked to investigate the death, including a new eyewitness report of an alleged violent beating of Soleiman by the CECC guards.
They came to the same conclusion as Kawartha Lakes Police and say there is no prospect for conviction according to the family.
