Court appearance for Calgary man arrested for alleged child abduction pushed back 1 week

CBC News | Posted: August 21, 2025 10:01 PM | Last Updated: 4 hours ago Zain Merchant, 37, scheduled to appear in court in Airdrie Aug. 28 Image | Airdrie RCMP Caption: Airdrie RCMP arrested Zain Merchant on Monday and charged him with abduction of a person under the age of 14, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, kidnapping, forcible confinement and three counts of breaching a prohibition order. (Monty Kruger/CBC) A Calgary man’s appearance in court has been pushed back a week as he remains in custody after allegedly abducting a child who police said was attempting a “catch a predator” scheme. Zain Merchant, 37, faces nine charges, including abduction of a person under the age of 14, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, kidnapping, forcible confinement and three counts of breaching a prohibition order. Merchant was scheduled to appear in court in Airdrie on Thursday, but his appearance was postponed until next Thursday, Aug. 28. He was arrested on Monday after police said he allegedly abducted a 12-year-old boy. The boy and a group of at least six other children of a similar age arranged to meet a man as part of a “catch a predator” scheme to
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