Owners of restaurant in Burlington raided by police issue statement
Published December 27, 2019 at 7:16 pm
The family who owns Wundeba, the restaurant that was raided along with a home in the Mount Nemo area of Burlington last week has released a statement.
The family who owns Wundeba, the restaurant that was raided along with a home in the Mount Nemo area of Burlington last week has released a statement.
After Halton Regional Police Servcices (HPRS) arrested Mohan “Jarry” Ahlowalia for several charges related to human trafficking, his family–the owners of Wundeba–issued a statement claiming the allegations are baseless.
“It is easy and enticing to follow the media and believe everything it says. However, when you and your family are targetted by it, you can really start understanding the meaning of ‘fake news’ and how it can lead you to think a certain way about a situation and can appreciate that what is portrayed in the news is sometimes, and probably more often than not, a fabrication to make their media more exciting,” the statement reads.
Ahlowalia, a 58-year-old Burlington man known to his friends and family as Jarry, has been charged with 12 offences including sexual assault, trafficking in persons, extortion, seven counts of assault, and others.
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According to the release from HRPS, Ahlowalia goes by many nicknames, including Gerry Aholowalia, Jarry Mohan Ahlowalia, Jarry Awalia, Mohan J. Walia, M.J. Awalia, Jarry Ahluwalia, Mohan Ahuwalia, Jarry A’Walia, and Jarry Walia.
The statement from Wundeba goes on to claim Ahlowalia did not commit any of the crimes of which he has been accused.
“Jarry, our father, friend, and relative is a family person with whom we are very close, and who has not committed the alleged offences. The further statements and comments made online in response to the news are so ludicrous that if this was not such a difficult time for us we would find them hilarious,” the statement reads.
The statement further claims Ahlowalia was “set up” by someone close to him. “These charges and allegations have been brought forth by a group of people that called themselves family with us for over 20 years and we are heartbroken due to this,” it reads.
However, according to the release from HRPS, police believe members of the community may have information that could assist them during their investigation–they’re urging anyone with relevant information to contact the Child Abuse and Sexual Assault (CASA) Unit at 905-825-4747 ext. 8970.
Cover photo courtesy of Wundeba’s Instagram
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