KAWARTHA LAKES-An inquest date has been announced into the death of Soleiman Faqiri.
Mr. Faqiri, 30, died on December 15, 2016, at the Central East Correctional Centre after physical interactions with correctional staff. An inquest into his death is mandatory under the Coroners Act.
The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Mr. Faqiri’s death. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths. No charges were ever laid in the death of Faqiri.
We were first to bring you this story after receiving a tip from a source. On December 15th, 2016 Kawartha Lakes Police say they were contacted after Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Services had treated an unresponsive male inmate at the CECC. 30-year-old Soleiman Faqiri was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the Centre of Forensic Sciences and Coroners Complex in Toronto later that night for an autopsy.
Faqiri’s brother Yusuf told Kawartha 411 (formerly VanMeer Free Press) shortly after the death that they weren’t allowed to see him in the days leading up to his death. “We don’t know why we weren’t able to see him in the ten days he was in custody.” Yusuf says he and his brother tried to visit Soleiman a number of times and were told he was “on lockdown” and they were not able to see him.
Faqiri was diagnosed as a Paranoid Schizophrenic in 2005 and Yusuf says officials at the Central East Correctional Centre knew of his mental illness. “I told them to please use restraint”
A source told the VanMeer Free Press something allegedly happened between the inmate and professional staff and the inmate may have been in segregation. The family has confirmed Faqiri was in segregation although it’s unclear why.
Yusuf told Kawartha 411 at the time his brother “was a gentle soul, his death was avoidable” “My father is devastated, my mother anguished. It’s unacceptable”
The inquest is expected to last 15 days and hear from approximately 20 witnesses.
The inquest will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, November 20, 2023, at the Coroner’s Courts, 25 Morton Shulman Avenue, Toronto. Dr. David Cameron will be the presiding officer. Prabhu Rajan and Julian Roy will be the inquest counsel.
