Lawyer to prosecute Maple Ridge city councillor announced

B.C. provincial courts announced Friday the lawyer appointed to prosecute a Maple Ridge city councillor charged with assault and firearm violations.

Last week, following an investigation by the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment of the RCMP, the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) charged Maple Ridge Coun. Ahmed Antar Yousef Mohamed with several offences including assault, pointing a firearm, unsafe storage of a firearm and ammunition, and two counts of disobeying a court order.

In an update Friday, the BCPS announced that Vancouver lawyer Claire Hatcher has been selected as special prosecutor in Yousef’s case.

The service says a special prosecutor is intended to avoid any potential improper influence in the administration of justice, given that Yousef is an elected official.

“Her mandate includes providing legal advice to investigators as may be necessary, conducting any related charge assessment, and assuming conduct of the prosecution if any charge is approved.”

In a post to social media Monday, Yousef announced that he is taking a leave from his position as city councillor to focus on “personal matters,” effective immediately, adding that he hopes to take back his seat at the earliest possible opportunity.

On Wednesday, he posted a bible quotation, including the phrase “blessed is the one who perseveres under trial.”

Details of Yousef’s case are under a publication ban by the courts. The prosecution service says Hatcher was selected as early as Jan. 29.