Diaby charged and arrested

Dina Fanara

Assistant News Editor

Former McMaster basketball player, Mouctar Diaby, age 26 has been arrested and charged with “one count of weapons trafficking, four counts of possession of drugs under $5,000, three counts of trafficking and one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking,” according to the Hamilton Spectator.

Diaby played for the McMaster basketball team from 2008 to 2010.

Following his arrest on Jan. 24, Diaby remains in police custody, in Hamilton’s Barton Street jail.

Diaby’s family was able to post $10,000 in bail and Frank Lostracco, fomer McMaster coach offered $2,000 in bail however, given the current circumstances, the court decided that bail would only be considered with a minimum of $20,000.

If convicted of these charges, Diaby could face four to five years in prison.

Police suspicion surfaced in July of last year, when Diaby was initially contacted by an undercover officer from the Toronto Police drug squad who arranged to purchase $700 worth of cocaine from Diaby.

The deal was carried out in Oakville.

Later that same month, Diaby was contacted by another undercover officer who claimed to have $9,000 worth of cocaine to sell to him, a deal which was made near Main St. and Dundurn St. in Hamilton, but completed at Diaby’s apartment located at 200 Bay St. S.

Another dealing, which occurred on Jan. 12, involved the sale of $700 of powdered cocaine as well as a handgun.

It was following this meeting, that Diaby was arrested. Diaby has been ordered back to court on Feb.1 to establish a trial date.