WINNIPEG - A man accused of sexual assaulting three boys in Manitoba in the 1980s has been arrested overseas after a police hunt that led through England, Ireland and finally Spain.
Police say Iain Kenneth Smy, 49, was arrested Monday at a home in Malaga, Spain, and is being held in custody while Canadian authorities apply for his extradition.
Smy skipped bail in July 2010 after being charged with nine counts of sexual assault. He was able to flee the country despite having surrendered his passport as a bail condition, Winnipeg police Const. Jason Michalyshen said Thursday.
"Mr. Smy has family, his parents originate in Britain, so he was able to obtain a (British) passport and leave the country." Michalyshen said.
Smy was first arrested in Ontario in 2009 and charged with sexually assaulting three boys between 11 and 15 years old in Brandon, Man. between 1984 and 1988. He missed a court date in 2010, so police in Brandon asked for help from their counterparts in Winnipeg.
After receiving information that Smy may have gone to Europe, police started reaching out to several overseas forces, including Interpol, the London Metropolitan Police, the Irish national force and Spanish police.
"It looks like there was some movement throughout Europe," Michalyshen said.
The effort to extradite Smy and have him returned to Brandon to face charges is expected to take at least 60 days, Michalyshen said, depending on whether Smy appeals the procedure.
