Accused in fentanyl death still out on bail

The Crown has consented to the continued release of a B.C. man who was re-arrested on new manslaughter charges in connection with four fatal fentanyl overdoses in Saskatoon last year.

Azam Kabani, 20, must provide an additional $7,500 on top of the previous $7,500 in bail money he put up when he was originally released on March 21, 2018.

His conditions prevent him from contacting his two co-accused, Japmanjot Grewal, 22, and Shervin Dass Beeharry, 20.

He must also use a restricted cellphone that is not password protected.

Outside court, Kabani’s lawyer, Mark Brayford, indicated his client will plead not guilty to all his charges.

Kabani was freed on bail 11 days after he, Grewal and Beeharry were initially arrested and charged with drug trafficking offences after three people died from using fentanyl-laced cocaine on March 10, 2018.

Grewal and Beeharry were denied bail.

At the time, police said they were considering laying manslaughter charges in the drug trafficking case.

The unprecedented move came on Feb. 22, when police announced at a news conference that the three men were charged with four counts each of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death, and three counts each of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

The public learned that a fourth person — a woman — had fatally overdosed on the same weekend when two other women and a man had died.

Three more people were hospitalized.

Beeharry was arrested at a home on Pawlychenko Lane, where police seized 11 grams of cocaine mixed with fentanyl, 149 grams of cocaine, 31 grams of heroin, 34 grams of marijuana, $14,210 in cash and a semi-automatic pistol.

Grewal and Kabani were arrested while driving.

The reasons for Kabani’s release, and any other information presented at the hearing, are subject to a publication ban.

His next court date is set for case management in March.