Asian Tribune Your Multilingual Newspaper covering World and local news News
Police say 12 additional charges have been laid against an Ontario man accused of selling a deadly substance online to those at risk of self-harm.
York Regional Police Insp. Simon James told reporters on Tuesday that Kenneth Law has now been charged with a total of 14 counts of counselling or aiding suicide within the province of Ontario.
James alleges Law operated several websites selling sodium nitrite — a substance which can be lethal in large doses.
Sodium nitrite is a white, crystalline substance used as a food additive and typically found in processed meats. Police said intentional consumption of excessive amounts of this substance can reduce oxygen levels, impair breathing and result in death.
Law, a 57-year-old man from Mississauga, Ont., was already charged with two counts counselling or aiding suicide in May from Peel Region following an initial investigation into a sudden death.
The new charges are from the following regions: four in Toronto, one more in Peel Region, three in York Region, one in Durham Region, one in London, Ont., one in Thunder Bay and one in Waterloo Region.
James said it is believed Law was operating the websites as of approximately late 2020.
Police said Law is suspected of sending at least 1,200 packages to more than 40 countries. Authorities in the U.K., United States, Italy, Australia and New Zealand also have launched investigations.
As the investigation into Law spread globally, Britain’s National Crime Agency said it has identified 232 people in the U.K. who bought products from the websites in the two years until April. The agency said 88 of those had died.
James said Law was believed to be associated with additional companies that were registered under the following names: Imtime Cuisine, AmbuCA, Academic/ACademic, Escape Mode/escMode and ICemac.
James encouraged anyone who has bought from these companies or knows someone who has to contact police.
In May 2023, a joint task force formed with 11 police agencies across Ontario. These include Peel Regional Police, York Regional Police, Toronto Police, the Durham Regional Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, London police, Waterloo police, Windsor police, Ottawa police, Thunder Bay police and Barrie police.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.