Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Mar, 2022 01:30 PM
VANCOUVER - A special prosecutor says British Columbia's former clerk of the legislative assembly used public funds to enrich himself in "glaring and egregious" ways.
Brock Martland made the allegation as he began closing arguments in the Crown's case against Craig James, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud over $5,000 and three counts of breach of trust.
James's defence is expected to present its case Wednesday.
Martland says that as the most senior officer of the legislature, James held a position akin to the CEO and was responsible for financial stewardship of the institution.
He accused James of acting outside of his duties by picking up a wood splitter and trailer for the legislature and storing them at home for a year, exploiting a weakness in the system to award himself a $258,000 retirement benefit and charging souvenirs to the public purse.
Martland says public trust in government officials is a critical part of a functioning democracy, and he alleged that James violated that trust.
"This case is about trust, specifically the public trust that we place in government officials," Martland told the court on Tuesday.
"Our position is that the public trust was violated repeatedly and extensively by Craig James."
Benjamin Kohlman, 43, pleaded guilty in September to arson charges for setting three fires within an hour, two in North Vancouver and one in Vancouver. Crown attorney Jonas Dow asked for a prison sentence up to five years, while the defence called for a two- to three-year sentence.
The jury released its recommendations Saturday after a weeklong inquest in Smithers examining the April 21, 2016 RCMP shootings of 39-year-old Jovan Williams and his 73-year-old mother Shirley Williams outside their home in Granisle, east of Smithers.
There are 4,483 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 201,267 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 441 individuals are in hospital and 129 are in intensive care.
As officers were trying to diffuse the situation and disperse the crowd, one man was arrested when he began causing a disturbance and refusing to leave. This arrest caused dozen of beachgoers to surround the police, making the situation extremely volatile.
Several people have been arrested and charged with numerous criminal and drug related offences after a 3-year-long investigation by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC) into a prominent and violent gang highlighting involvement of Punjabis.
Dr. Bonnie Henry and B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham announced Friday a permanent ban on breeding mink. Live mink will also not be allowed on the province's nine farms by April 2023, and all operations must cease completely and have all their pelts sold by 2025.
