The province’s Director of Public Prosecutions is publicly setting the record straight following allegations of political interference in the laying of charges against an RNC officer.
Lloyd Strickland calls the accusation “an afront to the integrity of public prosecutions and the Crown attorneys that serve the public.”
RNC Constable Joe Smyth has made a formal complaint to the RCMP alleging former Justice Minister Andrew Parsons played a role in Smyth being charged with obstruction of justice involving a traffic offence.
Strickland flatly denies any political interference in the Smyth prosecution or any others.
He says the suggestion that Crown lawyers would accept any direction or pressure from anyone in government is troubling.
PC Opposition Leader Ches Crosbie is calling for Parsons and RNC chief Joe Boland to step aside from their duties until the allegations are investigated and the complaints resolved.
Meanwhile, RNC Chief Joe Boland is affirming that there was no wrongdoing in his conversations with Minister Bernard Davis back in March.
Davis came under fire earlier this week after it was revealed in RCMP documents that Davis had called Chief Boland looking for an update on the investigation into then Minister Sherry Gambin-Walsh.
Davis has denied the allegations, saying he didn’t know about the Gambin-Walsh investigation until weeks later when it was mentioned in the media.
Boland describes having two phone conversations with Davis.
in the first, on March 5th, Boland told Davis there was a document leak, and enquired about the process for how their appointment papers move through the system, and who would have seen them.
He does not believe that conversation would have tipped Davis off about the investigation.
Then, Boland says there was a second conversation a few days later which Davis asked him how he was doing, and “if there was anything to the leak”. Boland then informed Davis it would be inappropriate for him to discuss.