Town of Inuvik pens letter pleading to bar man with history of drug charges from community

The Town of Inuvikwants to banaman with ahistory of drug-trafficking charges from coming home, should he be granted bail, according to a letter penned Monday.

TalalKhatib, 65, was arrested Friday for thesecond time this year, afterRCMPsearched his home with a search warrant.

Policefound hundreds of grams of illegal drugs, over $25,000 of cashand restricted weapons, including restricted bear spray,according to a news release Monday. He has three counts of drug-trafficking charges, and a weapons charge.

Khatib is currently under police custody in Yellowknife, and is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

• Inuvik man with history of drug trafficking charges arrested, again

According to a letter signed by Mayor Jim McDonald, members of councilfelt "obligated to express its opposition to Mr. Khatib being released in Inuvik in light of his past record."

The letter was submitted to the RCMPand the Crown prosecutorTuesday.

"The negative effects of drugs and alcohol on our community members are significant and serious," the letter reads.

"On behalf of theInuvikTown Council and our community residents, I respectfully request that every effort be made not to release Mr.Khatiband that if bail is granted, that there be an order restricting Mr.Khatibfrom entering Inuvik."

"It's on us to ask the courts after so many times this guy's been charged," said Vince Sharpe, a town councillor asking the courts to keep Khatib in jail until he goes to trial.

Severaldrug charges, no convictions

Khatib'shistory with police goes back to 2004 when he was charged with bootlegging, and in 2008 for drug trafficking. Both times, the charges were either stayed or withdrawn.

In the past year-and-a-half, police conducted three search warrants at Khatib's home, and arrested him after each time.

Khatib was arrested and charged for drug-trafficking this past January after a search resulted in hundreds of grams of illegal drugs.Last May, Khatibwas arrested and charged for drug-trafficking after a search of his home, but was granted bail and returned to Inuvik. The May charges have since been stayed.

None of the allegations against Khatib have been proven in court.He is set for trial in June 2018 on the charges against him fromJanuary.

'Scandalous ... potentially defamatory': defence lawyer

The lawyer representing Khatibreiterated that his client is "presumed innocent."

"I would say that the letter is scandalous and potentially defamatory. It would be entirely inappropriate for the Crown to present the letter in court," said Jeremy Jensen, who has represented Khatibpreviously.

"These issues are appropriately dealt with only in a court of law, not in a court of public opinion. The mayor is a municipal leader, one would expect him to understand and respect the rule of law," said Jensen.