Court gambles with public safety, grants serial drunk driver bail

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Forget three strikes and you’re out for serial drunk driver Koushal Kasiram.

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This is his sixth strike – allegedly.

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And, yes, he’s out. But not in a good way in that he’s out of commission and unable to harm any more people as he’s accused of doing to a young man currently in hospital fighting for his life.

“Three individuals involved were transported to local hospitals,” Peel Regional Police said Thursday of last weekend’s four-vehicle crash in Brampton.

“A 21-year-old male remains in unstable, critical condition and is anticipated to have long-term life-altering injuries,” police added.

But Kasiram, meanwhile, is out on bail – again!

Yes, you read that right. And you read in the above sentence that a 21-year-old young man is “unstable” condition. This is so ugly – so infuriating.

Grandmother Tamara Lich spent 49 days in pre-trial custody on mischief charges after the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa and now faces up to 10 years in prison when her sentencing comes down this summer. She didn’t hurt anybody.

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And while the Ontario justice system throws the book at her, they through a pillow at this guy.

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The 58-year-old Mississauga man was charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm, driving with excess blood alcohol and three counts of prohibited driving following the massive collision that unfolded at the intersection of Hwy. 50 and Coleraine Dr. around 4:15 p.m. on Saturday.

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He has three driving prohibitions. And yet he’s not in jail.

Deputy Chief Marc Andrews tells me Kasiram is also a “five-time repeat offender for impaired driving-related convictions” and was “also on three separate lifetime driving prohibitions at the time of the collision.”

What in the name of hell is this? While the current charges have not been tested, previous convictions show this accused is a menace.

“He was held for a bail hearing and attended the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton where he was released on a recognizance of bail, with conditions not to drive a motor vehicle,” police said.

That must have scared him. He must be laughing his head off at the justice system. This man calls the shots in the Ontario courts. He’s the boss. It’s like April Fool’s day in July.

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Why would he follow such a directive now when he has just been charged for allegedly not following multiple previous court orders prohibiting him from driving?

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But perhaps more importantly, why would a Justice of the Peace let him out on bail at all? Is there a Criminal Code offence for stupidity? You don’t have to be a legal expert to know that setting this accused man free is one hell of a gamble.

And gambling in such a way with the safety of Ontario residents is a disgrace.

“Serial impaired drivers shouldn’t be terrorizing the street and should be in custody for a very a very long time,” Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said. “People are playing Russian roulette with people’s lives.”

“Unfortunately, in Canada right now, this kind of offender only gets a slap on the wrist. Like the tragedy of the Russo family a few years ago, I am so sick of hearing about this kind if senseless crime,” he added.

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Brown said the problem falls more on to the Criminal Code than on those on the bench interpreting the laws, but he believes it’s getting to a point where the “notwithstanding clause may have to be used to ensure there are serious consequences for serious crimes.”

Whatever government’s do or don’t do, it’s too late for this young victim clinging to life and the others wounded in this case. How Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Doug Ford don’t drop whatever they are doing today to fix this abomination is beyond me.

There is no excuse good enough to explain why this man is free.

This is potentially one of the most dangerous people in Ontario right now – and so is whoever let him out.

jwarmington@postmedia.com

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