A former city councillor in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, is now facing four counts of sexual assault following an investigation led by a special prosecutor. The charges add to a series of legal issues for the elected official, who was previously forced to step down from his council role.
New Charges Laid by Special Prosecutor
The B.C. Prosecution Service announced the new charges on Thursday, January 15, 2026. A special prosecutor, Claire Hatcher, was appointed to handle the case due to its involvement of an elected official. After completing her charge assessment, Hatcher approved the four counts of sexual assault against Ahmed Antar Yousef Mohamed, who is publicly known as Ahmed Yousef.
This development marks a significant escalation in the legal proceedings against Yousef, who was first elected to the Maple Ridge council in 2018.
A History of Legal Troubles and Removal from Office
Yousef's political career was already under severe strain before the latest charges. He was forced to step down from his council position in May 2025 after being charged with several other criminal offences. Those prior charges included four counts of assault, pointing a firearm at another person, and unsafe storage of a firearm.
His legal challenges continued into 2025, with an additional charge of driving while prohibited laid in January of that year. A pretrial hearing related to the driving charge was scheduled for Friday, January 16, 2026.
Political and Advocacy Background
Beyond his municipal role, Ahmed Yousef has been active in federal politics and men's rights advocacy. In the 2021 federal election, he ran for the Liberal Party in the riding of Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge. Using the name Ahmed Yousef, he finished in third place behind Conservative MP Marc Dalton and NDP candidate Phil Klapwyk.
In recent months, Yousef has used social media to promote men's rights issues, calling for national legislation and support for men, particularly in the realm of family law. He is a member and advocate for the Canadian Centre for Men and Families, an organization that provides support to men and boys dealing with crises related to divorce, custody battles, and what it describes as "false allegations."
The new sexual assault charges introduce a complex layer to his public advocacy, which has focused heavily on men's legal challenges. The case will now proceed through the British Columbia justice system, with the special prosecutor overseeing the proceedings due to the accused's former status as an elected official.
