New charges for ex-train driver accused of track tampering

A former train conductor accused of tampering with railway tracks in Southwestern Ontario faces new charges for breaking his release conditions twice, court records show.

Article content

Wael El-Ghadban, 36, was arrested Feb. 1 following an Ontario Provincial Police investigation into several acts of mischief at rail lines in Middlesex and Oxford counties.

He is charged with mischief endangering human life for allegedly damaging “the railway shunting of CN Railways at Middlesex Centre, Zorra Township and London by connecting wires between rails of a train track,” according to court documents.

After spending six days in custody, El-Ghadban was released on lease with conditions that barred him from CN property, ordered him not possess tools except for work and required him to live with his security, the documents state.

El-Ghadban faces additional charges of failing to comply with a release condition on two separate occasions in Ottawa, where he now lives, the documents state. He’s accused of being on CN property without his surety on March 2 and leaving his house without his surety on March 15. El-Ghadban spent three days in custody before he was again released on lease.

Two CN workers previously told The Free Press El-Ghadban worked as a conductor for the Montreal-headquartered rail company in Sarnia and London prior to being charged. Both workers asked not to be identified because neither was authorized to speak to the media. CN has declined to confirm whether El-Ghadban was an employee.

[email protected]

Recommended from Editorial

  1. A London man faces charges after a police investigation into mischief at rail lines in London and Middlesex and Oxford counties, including this track on Tunks Lane in Komoka.  Photo taken on Friday, Feb.  9, 2024. (Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press)

    Man charged with mischief endangering life after train tracks damaged

  2. Wael El-Ghadban is seen in a LinkedIn photo.  A London man by the same name was charged following a police investigation into several acts of mischief at rail lines in Middlesex and Oxford counties last month.  (LinkedIn photo)

    Man charged in train track mischief worked for CN: Former co-workers

Share this article in your social network

pso1