A Squamish woman charged with alleged ISIS-related terrorism offences has pleaded not guilty and chosen a B.C. Supreme Court jury trial.
The RCMP’s Federal Policing Integrated National Security Enforcement Team said in July it had arrested and charged 51-year-old Kimberly Polman.
Court documents indicate she left B.C. July 21, 2015, information that is in count one of charge documents.
The charges allege Polman left Canada to knowingly participate in the activity of a terrorist group for the purpose of enhancing the ability of such a group to perform its activities. That is alleged to have happened in Richmond.
A second count alleges she participated in the work of the Islamic State between July 25, 2015 and July 27, 2019. That is alleged to have happened in the Syrian Arab Republic.
Articling student Brittney MacBean, appearing on behalf of defence lawyer David Ferguson, told Judge Patricia Stark Oct. 24 that Polman’s defence team needs further time to review Crown disclosure in the case.
Polman was repatriated to Canada in October 2022 and was placed on a series of bail conditions.
MacBean made the judge and jury election before Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Reginald Harris Nov. 7.
The defence has not requested a preliminary hearing at this time, MacBean told Harris. Such hearings are held to determine if enough evidence exists to go to trial. They are covered by publication bans.
Polman’s next appearance on the charges is Nov. 27 in B.C. Supreme Court, Harris said.
Repatriation
A federal government parliamentary question period briefing note dated Oct. 25, 2022 for then-minister of public safety Marco Mendicino said Polman and another woman were repatriated from a camp in northeast Syria on received information that their health was deteriorating.
The other woman is Oumaima Chouay, who was repatriated with her two children.
She was arrested in Montreal on her return to Canada on Oct. 25, 2022.
Chouay was charged with leaving Canada to participate in the activity of a terrorist group, providing, making available property or services for terrorist purposes and conspiracy for leaving Canada to participate in the activity of a terrorist group.
