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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Brandon man accused of sex assaults nabbed in Spain

By: Aldo Santin

Posted: 05/3/2012 12:04 PM

WINNIPEG -- A Brandon man wanted for a series of sexual assaults on young boys in that community in the mid-1980s was arrested Monday in Spain.

Winnipeg Police said extradition procedures have begun to return Iain Kenneth Smy, 49, back to Canada to face charges on 9 counts of sexual assaults on boys aged 11-15 years in Brandon between 1984 and 1988.

WPS spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen said Brandon Police recently asked Winnipeg Police for help in tracking Smy down after he failed to show up for a court date in 2010.

Smy had been on bail following his arrest in 2009.

The WPS works with the RCMP on the Manitoba Integrated Warrant Apprehension Unit, a dedicated team of officers who track down high profile criminals wanted on arrest warrants.

The special unit contacted Interpol, Michalyshen said, which brought in police from the London Metropolitan Police, the Irish National Police, as well as the Spanish police.

Michalyshen said that even though Smy forfeited his Canadian passport upon his arrest, he later managed to secure a British passport and travelled to South America and Great Britain before stopping in Malaga, Spain.

Smy’s parents are residents of Great Britain, Michalyshen said.

Michalyshen said Spanish police tracked Smy down in the town of Malaga and he was taken into custody Monday morning.

Smy could be back in Brandon to face charges in as little as 60 days, Michalyshen said, adding it could take longer if Smy appeals the extradition process.

The integrated warrant apprehension unit was formed in September, 2011 and is credited with the arrests of more than 450 individuals.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca