Toronto: Court proceedings began on Monday against Punjabi-origin accused Parmpal Sidhu in connection with the theft of gold and foreign currency worth C$22 million (around ₹185 crore) from Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Prosecutors allege that Sidhu, who was an Air Canada employee at the time, used his access to the airline’s operations and played the role of an “inside man” in the major theft.
Appearing in court, Sidhu denied the allegations of theft and conspiracy and pleaded not guilty.
Crown prosecutor Jelena Vlasic told the court that a fake air waybill allegedly used in the April 2023 theft was printed from Sidhu’s profile one day before the incident.
According to the prosecution, the shipment was subsequently loaded onto a truck and disappeared from the airport.
The case centres on the alleged use of insider access and fraudulent documentation to facilitate the disappearance of the high-value shipment. The allegations have not been proven in court, and the accused remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.
