As the two-week trial of a Brampton man accused in the abduction of a Thessalon child draws nearer, an additional judicial pre-trial date was requested on Wednesday in the Sault Ste. Marie Court House.
Manoj Govindbalunikam was arrested by Sault Ste. Marie OPP in August of 2023 and charged with abducting a nine-year-old boy in Thessalon
None of the allegations have been tested in court and Govindbalunikam is considered innocent unless proven guilty. A publication ban is in place, preventing some details from being reported.
On Wednesday, the Crown and defence in the case agreed to an April 10 date for a judicial pre-trial continuation.
Speaking generally, a judicial pre-trial is a closed door meeting between a justice, the defence and Crown where final details are discussed to determine if the case will proceed to trial and, if it does, how much time will be required.
In September, trial dates were scheduled for the weeks of Oct. 13 and Oct. 20, 2025. Govindbalunikam's defence has elected for a trial by judge alone.
Govindbalunikam is currently out on bail, with conditions that he 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 stay away from the municipality of Thessalon except to drive through to attend trial and cannot be in communication with the victim and his family.
He was also ordered to surrender his passport to Peel Regional Police and was required to pledge $10,000 toward bail, with an additional $5,000 by his surety. Govindbalunikam is banned from having prohibited weapons and cannot be in a position of trust with a person under 16 years of age.
An officer with East Algoma OPP detachment told SooToday immediately after the Aug. 16, 2023 arrest that the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction were "bizarre," but that the boy was ultimately found unharmed.