Man extradited from India makes 1st court appearance

A 63-year-old man accused of sex crimes against boys in Nova Scotia will remain behind bars until a bail hearingnext week.

One day after returning to Canada, Ernest Fenwick MacIntosh made his first court appearance in Port Hawkesbury on Friday to face43 charges, including indecent assault and gross indecency.

Over the years, several menhave alleged they were sexually abused when they were teenagers in the 1970s and 1980s.

One of them was in court Friday.

"Itwas hard seeing him again after30 years," said the man, who cannot be named because of a publication ban.

RCMP laid charges in 1995, but MacIntosh was only recently extradited from India, his home for the last 13 years. Three officers escorted him back to Nova Scotia on Thursday.

MacIntosh's passport was renewed twice during his time in India, outraging the man who showed up in court.

"I'm at the point where I'm so frustrated with the justice system," he said.

Province, Ottawa blame each other

The province blamed Ottawa for dragging its feet, while Ottawa blamed the province.

ChrisHansen,spokesperson for Nova Scotia's prosecution services, told CBC News Thursday that the federal government asked for more information.

"We had to ask the RCMP to do more investigation and we responded to the federal government with new information, and then that would trigger a request for more information and we would go and get it."

Indianpolice arrested MacIntosh in Aprilat the request of Canadian authorities.

MacIntosh, whohas leukemia, argued in court thathe wastoo unhealthy to travel, buta judge denied his request to stay in India.

MacIntosh will be back in court in Port Hawkesbury on Wednesday for a bail hearing. TheCrown said it will be opposing bail.