Judge rejects convicted bank teller's bid to be released on bail pending appeal

A judge has rejected a Calgary bank teller's bid to be released on bailpending an appeal hearing for her conviction in helping her then-boyfriend rob the Bank of Montreal where she worked.

Kenza Belakziz, 24, was sentenced in June for her role in the November 2014 robbery.

Her appeal argued that Justice David Gates erred by dismissing Belakziz's request to withdraw her guilty plea and her request for a Jordan application, which establishes that a case must be heard within a certain period of time.

• Bank teller appeals conviction for role in Calgary heist

"Given the apparent weakness in the applicant's grounds for appeal and further, given the seriousness of the offence I agree with the Crown that the public interest in enforceability outweighs the reviewability interest,"JusticeMichelle Crightonwrote in her dismissal of Belakziz's application.

However, the justice directed that both the conviction and sentence appeals be heard at the first available date.

Belakzizpleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery in October, but shehad requested asentence of less than six months over concerns she would be deported to Morocco, where she is originally from but no longer has family.She has landed immigrant status in Canada.

The justice sentenced her to 18 months, and had saidthe risk of being deported was "not a good enough reason to deviate from what is otherwise an appropriate sentence."

She argued in her affidavit that if she was not released in advance of her appeal, she would suffer harm due to asevere and deteriorating mental condition. But Crightonpointed out that the psychiatrist provided no evidence as to her condition, and said there was no reason to suggest Belakzizcould not receive treatment while incarcerated.

• Teller involved in bank heist gets 18 months in jail despite plea for less time over deportation concern

Belakziz was working at the BMObranch in the southwest Calgary neighbourhood of Mission when she gave then-boyfriendSaleem Naseryconfidential information about the bank, including its layout, silent alarm and where the money was stored.

Nasery, along withLucas Windsor and Matthew Valdes, tied up the employees and robbed the branch at gunpoint, but were apprehended by police outside the building.

All three pleaded guilty. Nasery was sentenced to six years in prison, Windsor got five years and two months, and Valdesreceived 5 years.

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