The man accused of abducting a nine-year-old Thessalon boy on Tuesday has been granted release on bail, but he will remain behind bars until at least next week while his bail conditions are sorted out.
Manoj Govindbalunikam of Brampton was arrested Wednesday by Sault Ste. Marie OPP. He appeared in bail court today in the Sault as more details about the case continue to emerge.
An officer with East Algoma OPP detachment told SooToday that the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction are "bizarre," but that the boy was ultimately found unharmed.
Constable Phil Young also said the case has drawn significant media attention from across the province.
“This would be a big case in a big city, let alone a little community like Thessalon,” he said.
None of the allegations have been tested in court and Govindbalunikam is considered innocent unless proven guilty.
Young said the boy was fishing Tuesday evening when he was approached by a man driving a yellow Camaro.
"The male driver said he was looking for properties and that he was a real estate agent — not that a nine-year-old is going to care about that — then he offered him a toy and somehow the boy willingly got in the car with him," said Young.
"We all kind of find it a strange set of circumstances right there," he continued. "I guess no matter how many times we tell our kids not to talk to strangers and don’t get into cars of people you don’t know and all of that stuff — you never know what a nine-year-old is going to do at the time."
Young said a bystander who knew the boy's family found it out of place to see him getting into a yellow Camaro, so they contacted his parents.
“A person who lives in the small town, small community where everyone knows everybody, knew this boy and wondered why he was getting into a yellow Camaro," said Young. "Being a yellow Camaro it stands out, for sure."
Young said the parents did not know anyone with a yellow Camaro and immediately went looking for their son.
"By the time they went out and looked for him and tracked this person down the parents spoke to the driver and the boy was in the car eating an ice cream cone," said Young. "Some words were exchanged between the parents and the driver and they got their son back out, went home and called the police."
Young said after the boy exited the car, the man took off.
When news of his arrest broke Thursday morning, Govindbalunikam's photo and contact information could be found listed on the web site of RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Team Arora Realty, under the name Manoj Nikam. As of Thursday afternoon, his profile information was removed.
Contacted by SooToday, the broker of record at the real estate firm, Parveen Arora, said Govindbalunikam has been fired, effective immediately.
"We have been made aware of the current allegations towards Manoj Govindalunikam, and we take this matter very seriously," Arora said. "We have terminated Manoj Govindalunikam from Re/Max Real Estate Centre Team Arora Reality Inc with immediate effect. At this moment in time our thoughts and concerns are centered around the victim and the family."
Govindalunikam appeared in Sault Ste. Marie bail court virtually on Thursday afternoon from the Sault Ste. Marie OPP detachment. He was wearing a blue and white patterned short sleeve button-up shirt and dark-rimmed eyeglasses.
The details heard in the bail hearing are protected under a publication ban, but the result — that Govindbalunikam was approved for release by Justice of the Peace Kyle Cachagee — can be reported.
The accused will be transferred to the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre and held until at least Aug. 23, pending the finding of a surety — a person who agrees to ensure that Govindalunikam abides by his bail conditions.
Those conditions will include that he pledge $10,000 toward his bail, along with $5,000 by his eventual surety. He will be under a curfew from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and be prohibited from attending public parks or swimming areas. He must also surrender his passport to Peel Regional Police within 24 hours of returning to his Brampton home.
Govindbalunikam is also banned from having prohibited weapons and cannot be in a position of trust with a person under 16 years of age. He must also remain away from the municipality of Thessalon except to drive through to attend trial and cannot be in communication with the victim and his family.
Despite the ordeal, police say the boy was unharmed. Young said this incident can be a teachable moment for parents and children alike.
“Definitely be aware of your surroundings," he said. "Unfortunately the age we live in today we can’t really trust people when they say who they are. It’s a bizarre set of circumstances."