National

Crown wants jail for former B.C. legislature clerk

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Jul, 2022 01:30 PM

VANCOUVER - The Crown is asking for a jail term for the former clerk of British Columbia’s legislature who was found guilty of fraud and breach of trust over expenses he claimed.

The conduct of Craig James was a "departure" by the most senior officer of the legislature, which Crown attorney Brock Martland told the court deserves "unequivocal denunciation."

Martland says there are situations where conditional sentences are granted, and while they often "involve high dollar amounts," they usually come with a guilty plea.

He says the Crown would like to see James jailed for a year or serve a term of house arrest.

Defence lawyer Gavin Cameron told the judge that James has suffered enough as he asked for a conditional sentence, saying incarceration would be a "disproportionate response."

James, who is 71, was found guilty in May of fraud and breach of trust related to inappropriate personal expenses, including claiming a newly purchased suit and shirts as work attire.

He was found not guilty on three other counts, including one related to a $258,000 retirement benefit.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Day of Mourning commemorates fallen workers

Today over a dozen ceremonies resumed in person, after holding virtual ceremonies for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Vancouver ceremony is at Jack Poole Plaza starting at 10:30 a.m. and is jointly hosted by the B.C. Federation of Labour, the Business Council of British Columbia, Vancouver & District Labour Council, and WorkSafeBC.

Day of Mourning commemorates fallen workers

One man dead following police-involved shooting

Vancouver police say they were responding to an alleged assault inside an apartment near Commercial Drive and Fifth Avenue. There was an exchange of gunfire with a man in his 40s and Const. Tania Visintin says the man died.

One man dead following police-involved shooting

Nearly 1,000 troops denied vaccine exemptions

The Canadian military says nearly 1,000 members have been denied exemptions from the military's COVID-19 vaccine requirement. Vice-chief of the defence staff Lt.-Gen. Frances Allen says more than 1,300 members of the Canadian Armed Forces requested exemptions for medical or religious reasons.

Nearly 1,000 troops denied vaccine exemptions

Sunwing party flight passengers fined $59,500

Omar Alghabra's office says 42 tickets were issued, including 18 for non-compliance with vaccination requirements and 24 for violations of masking rules.

Sunwing party flight passengers fined $59,500

Vancouver's empty homes tax to jump to 5 per cent

Councillors have unanimously backed a motion from Mayor Kennedy Stewart to hike the empty homes tax to five per cent of a property's assessed value, effective next year.

Vancouver's empty homes tax to jump to 5 per cent

Richmond RCMP warn public of fake taxi / debit card scam

The unsuspecting victim then provides the driver with a debit card to pay for the transaction electronically. The driver then claims the tap function on his electronic payment machine does not work. He then takes the victim’s card, pretends to make a transaction, has the victim put in their PIN number, and gives a bogus card back to the victim.