B.C. Rail e-mails from 2002 and 2003 no longer exist: government lawyer
Electronic records of cabinet and staff communications in 2002 and 2003 that may be relevant to the ongoing B.C. Rail corruption trial no longer exist, a government lawyer said in B.C. Supreme Court today (August 17).
Lawyer George Copley, who represents the cabinet, also told the court that back-up tapes of e-mails in 2004 are available, and that initial searches show that a number of them contain information that could be relevant to the case.
NDP attorney general critic Leonard Krog, who has followed this case closely, said he found Copley’s revelation particularly disturbing.
In an interview at the conclusion of the day’s hearing, Krog pointed out that the records of 2002 and 2003 can be considered the most important documents that could prove the defence team’s theory. It purports that the sale of B.C. Rail to Canadian National Railway Co. was a done deal before the bidding was even started.
Krog also noted that the RCMP raided the B.C. legislative offices of two ministerial aides who were later accused of corruption occurred in December 2003.
Krog said that someone should have thought to preserve all records related to the case, particularly after the RCMP raid.
A month before the raid, the government announced that CN Rail was the successful bidder.
Krog also noted that Copley hasn’t provided any answer to the question of who destroyed the electronic records.
On July 20 this year, B.C. Supreme Court justice Elizabeth Bennett ordered the government to produce e-mails and other communications between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2004.
Earlier in today’s hearing, Bennett announced in court that she was stepping down as the trial judge following her appointment in May 2009 to the B.C. Court of Appeal.
However, Bennett said that she will continue to hear pretrial arguments.
David Basi, a former senior aide to former finance minister Gary Collins; and Bob Virk, former aide of ex-transportation minister Judith Reid; are accused of corruption, fraud, and breach of trust for allegedly leaking information.
A third defendant Aneal Basi, formerly with government communications, is accused of laundering money allegedly received by David Basi and Virk.
Comments
7 Comments
Ted 999
Aug 17, 2009 at 7:38pm
Kind of reminds me of when President Nixons Secretary accidently erased the tapes. I am more convinced than ever that the whole government is corrupt
ezekiel bones
Aug 17, 2009 at 8:14pm
this is oh so shocking... I mean, convenient.
Baffled???
Aug 19, 2009 at 10:31am
@Carlito Pablo
Do you have any idea why this is going completely unreported elsewhere?
I have not found a single other news source describing the deletion of these emails.
It seems like it ought to be Nixon scale headline news!
Stephen
Aug 19, 2009 at 12:26pm
The MSM reported the deleted e-mails in a perfunctory manner, in between news about Britney Spears and the glorious 2010 Olympics. Corrupt practices and shady dealings in the Campbell Gov't are not considered newsworthy by the corporate media--unlike really important stuff, like Glen Clark's deck.
Loose Lips Sink Ships
Aug 24, 2009 at 11:10am
Not in BC as premier Campbell just has it deleted and is just crusing along while even the dullest of citizens know something is very wrong with the entire BC justice system. It still dosen't take away the evidence was destroyed by the Liberals leaving BC with a premier who would benefit from a stint in Rehab or Jail as come on now government dosen't accidently destroy email implicating premier and others when the case is before the courts. Its not shocking it is unbelievable as premier and office hang on by the seat of their pants despite being caught with them down, almost.
Alcoholic homes also have a very high incidence of physical and sexual abuse.
A real feature of alcoholism is deception
cameronjamesmcarthur@live.co.uk
Aug 28, 2009 at 3:26am
before someone with a better dealer than me comes up with...this could not happen in'cricket' england i have worked for the various(underground,mainline and channel tunnel)uk rail systems for 12 years.i reckon that greater official corruption exists only in arms procurement,oil,and drugs;legal and illegal. i worked for BC RAIL 76-79 and know the fraud of WACKY bennett's nazi monorail to ft. nelson...wild bill ginter scams etc.for those of tender years 'uncle' ben ginter made a fortune in rail construction and est.a pr george non-union brewery,made a decent malt liquor,then flooded alberta with a putrid brew during the protracted strike of /82.it would be wise to recall that JP MORGAN made his fortune laying the big steel rail.regards cam ps on f'book i have a notwork rail group
Stryder
Nov 21, 2009 at 11:26pm
What do you expect from a crowd that was corrupt right out of the gate, usually it takes a couple of years before the corruption starts. With this crowd it was being planed for years before they even got elected, it was literaly a matter of days before the stuffed brown envelops started to change hands.