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Senegalese diplomat arrested by Quebec police owed former landlord more than $45,000

MONTREAL — The detention and alleged beating by Quebec police of a Senegalese diplomat last week came as a bailiff was attempting to seize property at her residence to pay for a judgment against her.
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Quebec's provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa on June 30, 2020. A bailiff was attempting to seize property at the Gatineau, Que. residence of a Senegalese diplomat to pay for a judgement against her when she was detained and allegedly beaten by police.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

MONTREAL — The detention and alleged beating by Quebec police of a Senegalese diplomat last week came as a bailiff was attempting to seize property at her residence to pay for a judgment against her.

Quebec's rental board in June ordered Oumou Kalsoum Sall to pay a former landlord more than $45,000 for damage done to a home she occupied from Nov. 1, 2018, to Oct. 31, 2020.

Court records show that debt was not paid and a bailiff went to her residence in Gatineau, Que., to enforce it Aug. 2. 

The Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has claimed the diplomat had to be hospitalized after being handcuffed and beaten by police, and Quebec's independent police watchdog has opened an investigation into the incident.

Gatineau police said last week that they were called to the residence to assist a bailiff and that they arrested a woman after she hit a police officer in the face, adding that she was tackled to the ground after allegedly biting another officer.

Global Affairs Canada has described the incident as "unacceptable," as international treaties give diplomats immunity from any form of detention or arrest.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 9. 2022.

The Canadian Press