Re: Artour (Anne) Sabouloua
ORB File No: 7715
Hearing held on: Thursday, November 27, 2025
Place of hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before: Alternate Chairperson: Ms. C. Finley Members: Dr. Y. Alatishe Dr. L.O. Lightfoot Hon. B. Allen Mr. J. Cyr
Parties Appearing: Accused: Artour (Anne) Sabouloua Counsel: Mr. A. McIver
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. S. Rosales-Zelaya
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. M. Feindel
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated January 22, 2026)
Introduction
On April 6, 2020, Artour (Anne) Sabouloua1 was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on charges of arson (damage to property), arson (reckless disregard for human life), use of a firearm while committing an indictable offence, mischief not exceeding $5,000, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, all contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. She is currently subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board (“the Board” or “ORB”), dated November 22, 2024, detaining her at the Forensic Service of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto (“CAMH” or “the hospital”), with discretionary privileges up to and including the ability to reside in the community in approved accommodations.
On November 27, 2025, the Board convened a hearing pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code to conduct Ms. Sabouloua’s annual review of her disposition. Ms. Sabouloua was present and represented by her counsel, Mr. McIver. The issues to be determined were whether Ms. Sabouloua continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public, and if so, the necessary and appropriate disposition to manage threat having regard to the criteria set out in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
The Board also was to consider Ms. Sabouloua’s transfer request. On August 8, 2025, Mr. McIver had given notice that Ms. Sabouloua would be seeking a transfer of her care to the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre pursuant to Rule 13 of the Rules of Procedure of the ORB.
Ms. Rosales-Zelaya, on behalf of the hospital, submitted that Ms. Sabouloua remains a significant threat to the safety of the public and the necessary and appropriate disposition is a continuation of the current detention order. Further, the hospital supported Ms. Sabouloua’s transfer request. Mr. Feindel, on behalf of the Ministry of the Attorney General, supported the hospital’s positions. Mr. McIver confirmed the transfer request but reserved stating his position on the other issues until after the evidence.
Findings
- For the reasons that follow, the panel finds that Ms. Sabouloua remains a significant threat to the safety of the public and the necessary and appropriate disposition is a continuation of the current detention order with the same terms and conditions. The panel declines to order a transfer to the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre (“ROMHC”).
The Evidence
- The evidence at the hearing consisted of the Hospital Report, dated October 28, 2025 (ex. 1), the ROMHC’s Rule 13 response dated November 25, 2025 (ex. 2), and the viva voce evidence of Dr. Ray, Ms. Sabouloua’s treating psychiatrist.
The Index Offences
- A summary of the circumstances of the index offences has been taken from the Hospital Report, at p. 32-33:
“On April 28, 2018, Artour Sabouloua was travelling from Vancouver to Toronto on a Greyhound bus. The bus was stopped at a Husky travel centre in Nipigon, ON, when Nipigon Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a call that that Artour Sabouloua was agitated and needed to be removed from the bus. Police attended and removed Artour without incident. There were no grounds for apprehension or criminal charges. Artour was informed they would be required to find other means to travel to Toronto.
Shortly thereafter, around 12:30 a.m. on April 29, 2018, an employee at the Nipigon Husky reported to police he had observed a young male hitchhiker and had offered for him to enter the Husky store to warm up. The employee told police that the individual had responded by saying “No, fuck it, I am going to go kill myself anyway.” OPP later identified this individual to be Artour Sabouloua. Nipigon OPP attended and apprehended Artour under the Mental Health Act. Police did not find Artour to appear suicidal, so they brought Artour to the detachment to provide him with a voucher for a motel. While Artour was filling out forms at the station, he asked police to shoot him in the head. Nipigon OPP officers subsequently brought Artour to the Nipigon District Memorial Hospital, where he spoke to the physician on call in the emergency room. The physician did not find Artour to be acutely suicidal and cleared Artour at 3:00 a.m.
OPP officers then brought Artour to the Town and Country Motel at 3:11 a.m., where Artour would spend the night with use of the motel voucher that police provided. Artour was registered to room number four for the night.
At approximately 6:19 a.m., police were notified of a fire at the Town and Country Motel in room number four. Upon police arrival, police observed that the fire had been extinguished by members of the public using fire extinguishers. A search of room number four was conducted by the police and no person was located inside. Room number four was described in the Crown Brief Synopsis as “completely destroyed, charring along the walls and the ceiling fan was also melted, along with the microwave on the opposite side of the room. It was also noted that the fire alarm that was hard wired to the electrical system was no longer attached and the exposed wires were observed on the ceiling.
At approximately 6:43 a.m., OPP located Artour Sabouloua walking eastbound on Highway 17 holding a lighter and cigarettes. Artour Sabouloua was arrested and declined to speak with a lawyer. Artour said there was no need to waste time in court, “I plead guilty, it’s obvious I did it”. Artour went onto say they lit the motel room on fire because of a bad seven years and that his life sucks. Artour was transported to the police station. He later told police that he had poured washer fluid all over the room and then lit it on fire.
At page 9:
On August 20, 2018, at approximately 02:48hrs Artour Sabouloua was inside their residence at 3- 307 Dalhousie Street, Ottawa, ON and shot pellets with an air soft gun at a parked vehicle. Artour exited their unit, entered onto the street and proceeded to shoot the vehicle some more. Artour reportedly did not know the registered owner of the vehicle and their actions appeared unprovoked. The police attended the scene and arrested Artour.”
Background Information
The Hospital Report contains detailed information as to Artour Sabouloua’s personal and psychiatric history and need not be reviewed in detail beyond the following material points. Ms. Sabouloua is a 34-year-old single transgender female who was born in Russia. She immigrated to Canada with her family when she was nine.
Ms. Sabouloua remained in the family home in Oakville until 2014, when she moved to Ottawa to pursue a romantic relationship with a man that she had met online. Over the next few years, Ms. Sabouloua moved a number of times as a result of partners ending the relationship or due to abuse. Housing was unstable.
Following the index offences, Ms. Sabouloua resided in an apartment in Ottawa that was leased and paid for by her mother. Unfortunately, she was evicted from that residence after she caused significant damage to the apartment. Since then, Ms. Sabouloua has resided in various homes and homeless shelters for brief periods of time. Her mother reported that Ms. Sabouloua was employed as a sex trade worker during this time. She is currently supported by the Ontario Disability Support Program (“ODSP”).
Ms. Sabouloua started smoking cannabis at the age of sixteen and used it regularly for many years. She reported that it caused problems with her mental health, housing, work and other social issues. Ms. Sabouloua experienced gender dysphoria beginning at the age of fifteen, at which time she identified as a female.
Ms. Sabouloua began having intense and preoccupying paranoid beliefs around the age of 24. She believed that people were trying to kill her, causing her to have difficulty sleeping. She incorporated people around her into these beliefs, including her neighbours and strangers with whom she would interact. Later, when she was 27, she experienced auditory hallucinations and referential delusions, including during the time of the index offences.
In the years following the index offences, Ms. Sabouloua had numerous psychiatric admissions, both voluntary and involuntary. In a number of instances, cannabis use and noncompliance with medication were suspected. In December 2019, she was admitted after being brought to the ROMHC by police. Ms. Sabouloua had tried to break into her neighbour’s residence. When police arrived, Ms. Sabouloua behaved violently and demonstrated disorganized speech. Police had to use force to enter her home and found the apartment to be in poor condition with several crack pipes scattered around. During her ensuing hospitalization, her mental status improved significantly. She was discharged against medical advice. However, she no longer met the criteria for certification under the Mental Health Act.
Following her initial hearing before the Board, Ms. Sabouloua continued to reside in the community of Ottawa and was supported by the forensic outpatient team at the ROMHC. However, she was regularly using crystal methamphetamine and overdosing on her antipsychotic medication to counter psychotic symptoms produced by the drug use. Ms. Sabouloua struggled to maintain stable housing. Her assigned social worker tried to arrange for approved accommodation but given Ms. Sabouloua’s history, no suitable accommodation was secured.
Given Ms. Sabouloua’s ongoing drug use, noncompliance with medication, engagement in risky sexual behaviours and precarious housing situation, the treatment team determined that they could not manage her risk in the community. Ms. Sabouloua was admitted to the ROMHC on September 28, 2020.2
Over the following three years Ms. Sabouloua had an increasingly adversarial relationship with her treatment teams, both as an inpatient and when residing in the community. She consistently engaged in regular problematic substance use, cocaine, cannabis and crystal methamphetamine in particular. On a number of occasions, she eloped from the hospital and obtained these substances in exchange for sex. On one occasion, she reported that she had planned her elopement and drug use. She wore two layers of clothing during an escorted walk. She discarded the outer layer shortly after absconding to evade police detection and avoided main streets while heading downtown. Her placement in the community was terminated in May 2022 due to her repeated and persistent failure to adhere to the terms of the agreement.
While admitted to ROMHC, Ms. Sabouloua frequently engaged in sexual relations with male co-patients on the unit, contrary to the unit rules. She was verbally and environmentally aggressive and confrontational towards staff and other co-patients. She punched walls, threw furniture and other items. She engaged in escalating defiance and oppositional behaviour. Co-patients became frightened.
On September 11, 2023, Ms. Sabouloua was transferred from ROMHC to CAMH. She was placed on the Women’s Secure Forensic Unit. In June 2024, Ms. Sabouloua eloped from hospital during an indirectly supervised pass on hospital grounds. She told the team that she had used drugs, including cannabis and crystal methamphetamine. She had received cash in exchange for sex.
On September 8, 2024, Ms. Sabouloua became physically aggressive, necessitating a Code White. She was throwing weighted furniture, assaulting, spitting, kicking and punching staff. She also kicked a security guard in the face. Four-point mechanical restraints were required to manage the risk of violence toward others as well as risk to herself.
Course since the last Disposition
Ms. Sabouloua’s current diagnoses are Schizophrenia, Cocaine, and Amphetamine-type Stimulant Use Disorders, in remission in controlled environment, Cannabis Use Disorder, in remission in controlled environment, and Borderline Personality Disorder. Ms. Sabouloua remained on the Women’s Secure Forensic Unit up until her transfer to the Women’s General Forensic Unit in February 2025.
While on the secure unit, Ms. Sabouloua’s mental state fluctuated considerably. Her affect ranged from highly labile and irritated to pleasant at times. She continued to express frequent persecutory and referential delusional beliefs. As in the past, she blamed the staff for her behaviour.
Her treating psychiatrist, Dr. Ray, recommended increasing the dose of antipsychotic medication. Ms. Sabouloua declined. At her request, she was prescribed Abilify long-acting injection. Her dosage was increased in December 2024, after Ms. Sabouloua reported experiencing auditory hallucinations and heightened impulsivity.
Given Ms. Sabouloua successfully using her community escorted passes, actively participation in groups and programming and 1:1 therapy with Dr. Cripps, a psychologist with the FORCAT program, and no recent physical aggression, Ms. Sabouloua was transferred to the Women’s General Forensic Unit on February 3, 2025.
Ms. Sabouloua continued to have periodic episodes of behavioural dysregulation, including yelling and swearing at staff. On April 1, 2025, Ms. Sabouloua had a behavioural escalation that required the use of locked seclusion. She became agitated during the afternoon and charged towards a co-patient, threatening that she would murder them. Further escalation in agitation was noted as she began to punch the seclusion room glass pane on the door. She also made verbally abusive comments towards staff and co-patients. She remained in seclusion overnight. The following day, Ms. Sabouloua presented as calm and cooperative, and the seclusion was terminated.
On April 9, 2025, another period of seclusion was required. While on a pass to the community, Ms. Sabouloua became dysregulated and began banging her head. She made several comments that she would make attempts to end her life by fentanyl overdose when discharged from hospital. After returning to the unit, she used a broken piece of plastic to superficially cut her thighs. Given the increased risk of harm to herself, Ms. Sabouloua was placed in locked seclusion.
On May 26, 2025, Ms. Sabouloua’s achieved level 6 passes, allowing for unaccompanied passes on hospital grounds for recreation purposes. On June 20, 2025, Ms. Sabouloua went out for a walk on the hospital grounds, and she did not return to the hospital. She eventually returned to the unit by her own volition two days later. She reported having used “lots of drugs” including opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and mushrooms. She also reported trading sexual favours for these substances. Her urine sample from June 16, 2025, was found positive for cannabis. The urine sample from June 22, 2025, was positive for cannabis, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Ms. Sabouloua’s off-unit privileges were suspended completely.
Over the following days, Ms. Sabouloua was agitated, irritable and verbally aggressive. She indicated that she wanted to be identified as a male and to be transferred to a male forensic unit. She also expressed a wish to return to Ottawa.
On August 7, 2025, Ms. Sabouloua assaulted a co-patient which triggered a Code White. She knocked the co-patient to the ground and repeatedly kicked her. Ms. Sabouloua was placed in seclusion. The next morning, she said she did not remember the incident and blamed her behaviour on excessive caffeine intake and the PRN medication that she had received just prior to the incident. The treatment team determined that Ms. Sabouloua’s risk to staff and co-patients could no longer be managed on the Women’s General Forensic Unit. As a result, on August 8, 2025, she was transferred back to the Women’s Secure Forensic Unit.3
Ms. Sabouloua remained in seclusion for three days following her transfer. She advised her treating psychiatrist, Dr. Ray, that she continued to experience psychotic symptoms in the form of auditory hallucinations. A trial of Clozapine was initiated. However, a full therapeutic trial was not achieved, as Ms. Sabouloua requested that it be discontinued due to perceived side effects.
Ms. Sabouloua continued to experience residual psychotic symptoms, including overt paranoia and auditory hallucinations. She persistently expressed paranoid beliefs that staff were tampering with her medications, food, and water, and further believed that her estrogen injection was being altered. She cited physical changes, such as perceiving that her breasts were becoming smaller, as evidence supporting these beliefs.
On September 8, 2025, a case conference was held to discuss Ms. Sabouloua’s wish to transfer to Ottawa. The team felt that, notwithstanding Ms. Sabouloua’s weekly appointments with Dr. Cripps, her engagement has been limited. She also has consistently refused Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (“DBT”). At present, there are no DBT programs being offered. The team recognized Ms. Sabouloua’s wish to be closer to her family. She is close with her mother and sister. They have been a consistent source of support for her. In all the circumstances, the team supported Ms. Sabouloua’s wish to transfer to Ottawa.
Over September and October 2025, Ms. Sabouloua’s mental state remained largely unchanged, characterized by ongoing residual psychotic symptoms. She continued to express paranoid delusional beliefs that staff were interfering with her sleep and tampering with her medications. In response to her persistent concerns regarding staff involvement with her medications, and at her request, all injectable medications were transitioned to oral formulations. That change was put in effect on September 30, 2025. As Ms. Sabouloua continues to experience psychotic symptoms, notwithstanding compliance with treatment, there is scope for medication optimization.
In response to the transfer request, by correspondence dated November 25, 2025, Dr. Strike, Ms. Sabouloua’s previous treating psychiatrist in Ottawa, wrote that the ROHC was not supporting a transfer. The hospital does not have the services required to meet Ms. Sabouloua’s needs. They do not have locked seclusion, gender-specific forensic units, or DBT counselling. The only addictions treatment currently available is limited to a weekly Concurrent Disorders group and virtual self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Dr. Strike made the following observation at page 2:
“I believe she can be successful at the ROMHC once she achieves further improvements with control of her psychotic symptoms and additional progress with sustained adherence to antipsychotic medication, anger and stress management, impulsivity, serious rule defiance, and substance use. Improvement in these risk factors may require a more sustained period of treatment in an environment with enhanced external controls that limit her risk of absconding, use of substances, and sexual activity, such that is available at the CAMH and not at the ROMHC currently.”
Dr. Ray testified before the panel. She described a Code White incident that had occurred a few days before the hearing. Ms. Sabouloua had returned from a successful escorted pass on hospital grounds when she appeared irritable and crying. When staff directed her to return to her room, she refused. Her mood escalated very quickly, and she threw a heavy chair, flipped a table, and tried to move an exercise bike. Staff were unable to redirect Ms. Sabouloua. The other patients were moved to another part of the unit for their safety. Given Ms. Sabouloua’s history of assaulting staff and co-patients, the police were called. When they arrived, Ms. Sabouloua assaulted one of the officers. She ultimately was placed in mechanical restraints and locked seclusion. She was successfully trialed out of seclusion after three days.
Dr. Ray testified that the hospital supported Ms. Sabouloua’s wish for a transfer because she would be able to receive the same treatment that she was receiving at CAMH. Secondly, Ms. Sabouloua has consistently refused to engage in individual DBT therapy and group programs are presently unavailable. Dr. Ray indicated she was not aware whether Ottawa offered group DBT programming at this time. Lastly, Ms. Sabouloua’s mother and sister are in Ottawa and would be able to visit her more frequently.
Dr. Ray indicated that Ms. Sabouloua’s problem behaviours and emotional dysregulation are primarily due to her borderline personality traits. They continue even when she is on a women-only unit. In the doctor’s opinion, Ms. Sabouloua should be trialed on a mixed gender unit and managed with supervision. Such a move would be a step towards her reintegration into the community, which likely would involve mixed gender supported accommodation. It would be important and helpful to have this trial occur in hospital.
Should Ms. Sabouloua remain at CAMH, the focus would be on therapy to manage her borderline personality traits. She will continue to be encouraged to participate in intense DBT one-on-one therapy, which is considered the gold standard treatment for BPD. The team would continue to encourage Ms. Sabouloua also to engage in substance use relapse prevention therapy. Both types of therapy could be done with Dr. Cripps, with whom Ms. Sabouloua has a good relationship. In addition, Dr. Ray’s focus would be on further optimizing Ms. Sabouloua’s medication to treat her residual psychotic symptoms.
Dr. Ray reiterated that Ms. Sabouloua experiences intense emotional dysregulation. At times, her behaviour has triggered Code Whites, and the team has had to use locked seclusion every two weeks to manage Ms. Sabouloua’s risk to staff and co-patients. Dr. Ray acknowledged that Ottawa does not have seclusion rooms and, should Ms. Sabouloua experience a deterioration in her mental status, the available options would be constant observation or the use of mechanical restraints. When Ms. Sabouloua was previously detained in Ottawa, mechanical restraints were used regularly.
Ms. Sabouloua is currently on a secure forensic unit that has only six patients. There is a higher level of staff support than on a general unit, which allows for the opportunity for patients to exercise more escorted passes.
Dr. Ray acknowledged that DBT is currently not available at ROMHC. This would present as a barrier to Ms. Sabouloua moving forward and would negatively impact on her treatment. Dr. Ray testified that it was important to test Ms. Sabouloua in a mixed-gender unit with supervision while she is in hospital. Her behaviour would have to be monitored to ensure that she maintained appropriate boundaries. This has not yet occurred at CAMH.
All parties agreed that Ms. Sabouloua remains a significant threat to the safety of the public and focused on the issue of Ms. Sabouloua’s request to transfer to Ottawa. Ms. Rosales-Zelaya submitted that a transfer to Ottawa reflects the importance of family support which can be potentially motivating. Mr. Feindel acknowledged Dr. Strike’s concerns yet stressed that when making a placement decision, the Board be mindful of the patient’s wishes and the support of family. Mr. McIver indicated that Ms. Sabouloua wished to transfer to a mixed-gender unit in preparation for a transition to the community. She continues to express her wish to transfer to Ottawa.
Analysis and Conclusion
Significant Threat
The panel carefully considered the Hospital Report and the evidence of Dr. Ray and unanimously concluded that Ms. Sabouloua continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. In coming to that decision the panel carefully considered the decision of the Supreme Court in Winko v. British Columbia. In that case, the Court identified a significant risk as a "real risk of physical or psychological harm to members of the public that is serious in the sense of going beyond the merely trivial or annoying. The conduct giving rise to the harm must be criminal in nature". In Winko, the Supreme Court also outlined that in coming to a conclusion on the issue of significant risk, a Review Board should closely examine a range of evidence including: the circumstances of the original offence, the past and expected course of the accused's circumstances and treatment, the present state of the NCR accused's medical condition, the NCR accused's own plans for the future, the support services existing for the NCR accused in the community and, perhaps most importantly, the recommendations provided by experts who have examined the NCR accused.
The panel notes the issue of significant threat to the safety of the public was not in issue. Despite this, the panel makes its own finding based on the expert evidence of Dr. Ray, as supplemented by the Hospital Report. Ms. Sabouloua’s risk flows from her diagnoses of Schizophrenia, various substance use disorders, in remission in a controlled environment, and Borderline Personality Disorder. She has a long history of medication noncompliance and substance use, both of which, exacerbate her psychotic symptoms. Notwithstanding her current compliance with medication, she continues to experience symptoms.
Ms. Sabouloua’s borderline personality disorder causes her to experience intense behavioural dysregulation that has led her to become violent and threatening. The index offences could have resulted in serious, if not fatal, injuries. Even when residing on a secure forensic unit, Ms. Sabouloua’s behaviour has triggered multiple Code Whites, putting staff and co-patients and police officers at risk. An assault on a co-patient resulted in her being transferred back to a secure forensic unit. As such, she remains a significant threat to the safety of the public.
Necessary and Appropriate Disposition
- Having found that the threshold for significant threat has been met, the panel also had to determine the necessary and appropriate disposition taking into consideration the criteria set out in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code. A detention order is necessary and appropriate to manage Ms. Sabouloua’s risk to the public. It is clear from the evidence that Ms. Sabouloua requires a significant amount of support and supervision. She is not yet ready for transition to the community. When exercising an escorted pass on hospital grounds, Ms. Sabouloua fled and immediately engaged in exchanging sex for drugs. Before her discharge to the community to occur, Ms. Sabouloua will need to develop skills to manage her emotions and demonstrate an ability to abstain from substances.
Request to Transfer to Ottawa
The panel finds that a transfer to Ottawa is premature at this time. Before a transfer to Ottawa, Ms. Sabouloua would need to be able to exercise some behavioural control and successfully reside on a mixed-gender unit.
Ms. Sabouloua is currently on a women-only secure unit that has six patients and enhanced staffing. Even with that intense support and monitoring, her behaviour has necessitated the use of seclusion every two weeks. Affording Ms. Sabouloua, the opportunity to settle and calm down has proven critical to managing her risk to staff and co-patients. Were she in Ottawa, where seclusion rooms are not available, Ms. Sabouloua would be subject to mechanical restraints. One allows her space within a confined area, the other is physical restraint.
DBT is the gold standard for treatment of borderline personality disorder and provides tools to manage intense emotions. Dr. Ray has indicated that Dr. Cripps will continue to offer this type of therapy to assist Ms. Sabouloua.
When Ms. Sabouloua ultimately is discharged into the community it is likely that any accommodation will include mixed genders. As such, it is important that she develop skills to reside in such an environment and do a trial while she resides in hospital. Such a trial could be done at CAMH. Should it be unsuccessful, Ms. Sabouloua could be transferred back to a women-only unit.
The panel recognizes that family has been a significant source of support for Ms. Sabouloua. Understandably, she would like to be physically closer to them so that they can visit more often. It is clear what skills Ms. Sabouloua needs to develop before a transfer to Ottawa. Knowing that may offer Ms. Sabouloua some incentive and be a motivator to continue to work with the treatment team and Dr. Cripps.
Taking into consideration the criteria set out in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code of Canada, which includes the need to protect the public from dangerous persons, the mental condition of the accused, the reintegration of the accused into society and the other needs of the accused, the panel finds that the necessary and appropriate disposition is a continuation of the current detention order. The panel declines to order that she be transferred to the ROMHC.
DATED this 22nd day of January, 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Ms. C. Finley Alternate Chairperson
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Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board