Former Coun. Hamou banned from Mayor’s Office, contacting Morgan’s family months before extortion and harassment charges

Former London Coun. Mariam Hamou is charged with extortion and sending harassing communications.

On Thursday, the St. Thomas Police Service charged former Ward 6 Coun. Mariam Hamou, 50, with extortion and harassing communications after an investigation was launched on Sept. 26.

Investigators did not identify the complainant.

However, a cease-and-desist letter delivered to Hamou in June indicates London Mayor Josh Morgan had expressed concerns about communications he’d received from his former colleague and political ally.

According to the letter it’s responding to “numerous communications you have sent to a City of London workplace including both a physical note, many text messages and voicemails containing threats and other allegations about the mayor.”

Hamou is then formally notified, “You are hereby ordered not to communicate directly with the mayor and his family (including but not limited to (his) partner, ex-wife and mother) unless necessary for legitimate city business.”

“If these actions continue or escalate, we will not hesitate to pursue all legal avenues available to us,” the letter concludes.

In 2021, Hamou was appointed by city council to fill the vacant Ward 6 seat following the resignation of Coun. Phil Squire.

She became the first Muslim woman to serve on London City Council.

At the time of her appointment, Hamou described herself as a 30-year resident of Ward 6 who has served on the Library Board, Regional HIV/AIDS Committee, and the board of the London Muslim Mosque.

However, she was defeated in the October 2022 municipal election.

Earlier this year, Hamou was appointed to serve as a member of the Council Resourcing Review Task Force but resigned after a couple months.

Hamou was taken into custody Thursday at St Thomas Police Service headquarters and was released with a future court date in London.