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A Calgary mother has been reunited with her son after police arrested the boy’s father in Mauritius, more than two years after he’s accused of abducting the then-five-year-old.
On Tuesday, Calgary police announced a charge of parental child abduction against 62-year-old Muhammad Zia-Ur Rahman, who police confirmed had worked in Alberta as a doctor.
He was arrested in December, and last week CPS Sgt. Scott Mizibrocky travelled to Mauritius to extradite Rahman to Calgary.
The child was returned to the city in mid-December. Mizibrocky says the now-seven-year-old is re-registered in school and is doing “quite well.”
“He’s quite happy, he’s playing with his siblings, he’s laughing, he’s playing video games,” said Mizibrocky. “Just what you’d expect with a seven-year-old child.”
Help from Interpol
Calgary police allege the abduction was “extensively planned.”
On Dec. 3, 2023, police say the suspect travelled from Calgary to Montreal and then onto Turkey. He then “immediately cut off all contact with his son’s mother,” according to a Calgary Police Service release.
Rahman bought property overseas, acquired new passports, relied on forged documents, and moved several times over the past two years, according to police.
The search spanned several countries including Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan and Vanuatu.
Police worked for two years to try to locate the father and son, joining forces with RCMP, Global Affairs Canada and Interpol. Calgary police said Interpol’s international alerts for the suspect and the child ultimately led to Rahman’s arrest.
‘We have him’
On Dec. 16, 2025, the suspect was spotted with his son at the Mauritius airport, where he was detained by local police, who then flagged the Calgary Police Service.
Mizibrocky says he was at home when got the call from Interpol at 1 a.m. MT. He then got in touch with the boy’s mother.
“The first words out of my mouth were, ‘We have him.'”
Four days after Rahman‘s arrest, the boy’s mother arrived in Mauritius to be reunited with her son, who she had not seen or spoken to in more than two years.
The pair returned to Calgary the next day.
Mauritius support ‘amazing’
Calgary police say Mauritius was key in reuniting the mother and son.
“It was absolutely amazing the support we received from Mauritius,” said Mizibrocky. “Without them, without their co-operation, we wouldn’t be here today.”
Rahman is currently in custody and is due in court Wednesday.
Calgary police say their investigation continues and they haven’t ruled out further charges.
Rahman has previously faced criminal charges but has no convictions.
In August 2023, he was charged with a number of domestic assault-related offences. Those charges were all withdrawn in October of that year.
