Re: Ebenezer Dadi
ORB File No: 8063
Hearing held on: Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Place of hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 1001 Queen Street West, Toronto
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(2) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. C. Fraser
Members: Dr. W. Johnston Dr. H. Moulden Ms. C. Murray Mr. J. Cyr
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Ebenezer Dadi Counsel: Ms. A. Szigeti
The Person in charge of Hospital: Counsel: Ms. S.R. Zelaya
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. V. Culp
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated April 10, 2025)
On April 22, 2022, Ebenezer Dadi was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (“NCR”) on charges of assault with a weapon, forcible confinement, and mischief under $5000, all contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (the “Criminal Code”).
On February 26, 2025, a panel of the Ontario Review Board (“Board” or “panel”) convened for an early hearing to review Mr. Dadi’s current Disposition pursuant to s. 672.81(2) of the Criminal Code.
Pursuant to Rule 13 of the Ontario Review Board Rules of Procedure, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (“CAMH”) provided notice on January 20, 2025, requesting an early hearing and cited its intention to recommend a transfer to Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (“Ontario Shores”).
On February 19, 2025, Ontario Shores provided a response to CAMH’s Rule 13 notice letter requesting a continuation of the Detention Order with community living in Durham Region should the Board order the transfer of Mr. Dadi to Ontario Shores.
At the time of the hearing, Mr. Dadi was ordered detained at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (the “hospital” or “CAMH”), with privileges up to and including living in the community in the Greater Toronto Area or Durham Region in accommodation approved by the person in charge.
Mr. Dadi was present for his hearing and was represented by counsel, Ms. Anita Szigeti, throughout the proceedings.
An Early Hospital Report dated January 16, 2025, was entered as Exhibit 1. A Hospital Report dated September 6, 2024, was entered as Exhibit 2.
At the outset of the hearing, the parties all requested that the annual hearing date for Mr. Dadi be preserved (autumn of 2025) and that this current hearing proceed only to consider the issue of a transfer to Ontario Shores. As the transfer was a joint recommendation and the last annual hearing was only five months ago, the panel agreed to proceed with this matter on that basis. Therefore, the Board did not consider any changes to Mr. Dadi’s current Detention Disposition dated October 10, 2024, being a Detention Order including community living in Durham Region.
For the reasons set out below and based on the evidence and opinions before us, the Board found that Mr. Dadi continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. The Board orders the transfer of Mr. Dadi to Ontario Shores, which is the necessary and appropriate Order on the terms set out in our formal Disposition having regard to the safety of the public, which is the paramount concern, and also having regard to Mr. Dadi’s mental health, reintegration into society, and other needs.
Mr. Dadi’s current psychiatric diagnoses include Cannabis Use Disorder, Severe, In Remission; Cannabis-induced Psychotic Disorder; and Maladaptive Personality Traits.
The synopsis of the index offences is excerpted from the Hospital Report (exhibit 2), commencing at page 13, as follows:
“Mr. Dadi and victim #1 have been involved in a romantic type relationship for approximately a year. They have no children in common and reside at separate addresses. On May 27, 2021, victim #1 attended 701-91 Cosburn Avenue, which is the Mr. Dadi’s home address. It is reported that Mr. Dadi wanted to have sex with victim #1, however she refused and ended up sleeping on the sofa. On May 28, 2021, victim#1 attempted to leave the apartment however Mr. Dadi refused to let her leave. At approximately 8:00 PM Mr. Dadi was upset and left his apartment with a knife in his hand.
Mr. Dadi and victim #2, resided in the same building and had interacted in the past. One interaction involved victim #2 calling police to report that she believed Mr. Dadi lit cat litter outside her apartment door. Mr. Dadi was listed as a Person of Interest in the occurrence. No charges were laid due to a lack of witnesses or video evidence.
On Friday May 28, 2021 at approximately 8:00 PM, Mr. Dadi was inside apartment 701-91 Cosburn Avenue, in the City of Toronto. Mr.