Why was Top5 arrested? Alleged charges against Toronto Rapper explored

Well-known rapper Top5 was recently taken into custody on January 24, 2025, on charges linked to a firearm investigation. The news comes a few months after the artist, also known as Hassan Ali, was cleared of accusations associated with a shooting incident that happened back in 2021, as per CityNews Toronto.

Apart from Top5, another individual named Yasin Ali was also arrested on similar charges. However, the Toronto Police Department clarified while speaking to CP24 that the two accused were not linked to one another.

According to a press release from the police, multiple charges have been imposed on Hassan, including careless storage of a firearm, a weapon, and prohibited device, weapon possession, unauthorized firearm possession, and possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition.

Furthermore, the outlet also stated that Hassan was supposed to be taken to court on January 25 at 10 am. However, further updates are currently being awaited.

The press release stated that a warrant for Hassan was issued on Friday at Enterprise Boulevard and Birchmount Road before he was arrested. It additionally requested the general public to get in touch with the cops or the Crime Stoppers if they have any details about the ongoing case.

Ali has various singles in his credits and has accumulated a huge fanbase, specifically with his song Shirt Off Shawty. He is active on Instagram with more than 200,000 followers and also has a YouTube channel.

---

Top5 was cleared in another case in September last year

The Lawrence Heights, Toronto native was in the headlines for a long time after he was arrested around three years ago for being reportedly associated with the murder of a 20-year-old student named Hashim Omar Hashi.

CP24 stated that the individual was shot dead while he was going to his apartment's underground garage in January 2021.

Top5 was arrested around two weeks after the incident and was charged with first-degree murder. He was extradited to Canada in October of the same year and the extradition hearing documents disclosed that Hassan was allegedly a member of a criminal group called Go Getem Gang, who reportedly planned the murder of the person who killed Hassan's brother, as per CP24.

The documents claimed that the gang killed Hashim Omar, mistaking him as the killer. The charges were eventually cleared by the judge of the Supreme Court before Hassan was supposed to go to trial in September 2024 since the evidence submitted to the court to prove the accusations were inadmissible.

Top5's attorney Gary Grill also spoke to the reporters after his client's release, explaining the circumstances that led to Hassan's arrest three years ago. He said:

"There was somebody in the backseat of the car wearing a gray track suit. That's the basis on which they were alleging that Mr. Hassan Ali, Top 5, was in the back of the car. At no point was he ever alleged to be a driver or be a shooter."

Grill further stated that the accusations might be revived at any point, saying he is expecting the case to get closed. On the other hand, Top5 said that he was not linked to the student's death, adding that he is expecting the culprit to get punished as soon as possible.