NUNAVUT - A priest facing sex crimes in Iglulik is back in Nunavut and made his first court appearance in Iqaluit on Jan. 20.

Eric Dejaeger, who had been held in the city of Bruges, in Belgium, since his arrest Jan. 3 on immigration law violations, landed in Montreal on Jan. 19 before arriving in Iqaluit on Jan. 20. - NNSL file photo

Eric Dejaeger, who had been held in the city of Bruges, in Belgium, since his arrest Jan. 3 on immigration law violations, landed in Montreal on Jan. 19 before arriving in Iqaluit on Jan. 20.

He arrived in Iqaluit on an Air Canada Jazz flight, escorted by RCMP. He was immediately brought to the Nunavut Court of Justice for a court appearance where he looked tired and dishevelled.

The accused first did not want to be brought out to court but finally appeared at the request of the Crown. His counsel said she would seek his release at a bail hearing Jan. 24, a request the Crown said in court they would oppose. His defence lawyer also requested Dejaeger be put in protective custody, something the judge said he would recommend but cannot demand as it is beyond his powers.

Dejaeger was remanded into custody pending his bail hearing Monday.

A warrant for Dejaeger's arrest was issued in 2002 for six sex charges stemming from his time in Iglulik in the late 70s and early 80s. Dejaeger turned himself in to Belgian police last fall before being released.

The 63-year-old Catholic priest is facing three counts each of buggery and indecent assault for incidents alleged to have occurred between Sept. 26, 1978 and Aug. 9, 1982 at or near the hamlet of Iglulik, according to his arrest warrant.

Dejaeger was convicted on eight counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault in Baker Lake in 1990 and was sentenced to five years in prison, according to information provided by the Northwest Territories Courts.

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