Montreal municipal candidate facing domestic violence charges, booted from party

Dani Muzungu is no longer a Futur Montreal candidate after being arrested and charged after he allegedly assaulted a woman in a case of domestic violence.

A candidate in the Montreal municipal election has been arrested and charged after he allegedly assaulted a woman in a case of domestic violence.

Dani Muzungu, 26, was arrested on Wednesday shortly before 4 p.m. after Montreal police received a 911 call and responded to an apartment on Glenmore Street in Hampstead. He was announced as the candidate for the Snowdown district with the Futur Montreal party.

When officers arrived they found an injured woman who was sent to hospital. Her injuries are not considered life-threatening.

The accused was arrested at the scene and appeared in court Thursday to face eight charges, including aggravated assault, assault causing bodily harm by choking, suffocating, or strangling, uttering threats, and assault.

He remains in custody.

Futur Montreal drops candidate

Futur Montreal has previously described Muzungu on social media as a legal professional and commissioner for oaths, with expertise in conflict resolution who was dedicated to “improving safety around Snowdon Metro.”

In a statement sent to CTV News on Thursday, the party said it was “shocked” and “deeply disappointed” by the incident involving the candidate, who has now been kicked out of the party.

“We understand the anger and concern this may cause, and we share it. As soon as we were informed, we acted immediately: this person has been removed from our team and no longer represents our party or our values,” the Futur Montreal said in the statement.

The party has asked Elections Montreal to remove him from the ticket.

“We want to be clear: such behavior has no place in our organization or in public life,” added Jean-François Kacou, party leader and mayoral candidate of Futur Montréal.

Kacou said he took down the candidate’s posters Wednesday night and expressed sympathies with the complainant.

Muzungu is scheduled to return to court Friday for a bail hearing.