Canadian Politician Exonerated of Selling Influence to Cover Gambling Obligations
Ex-Canadian parliamentarian, Raj Grewal, who was accused of trading influence for cash to cover gambling debts, was declared innocent by a judge at Ontario’s Superior Court on Friday.
Grewal was under scrutiny for supposedly assisting businessmen in securing meetings with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and speeding up immigration applications, in exchange for loans.
Grewal was reported to have a massive gambling addiction, amassing significant debt at the Casino du Lac-Leamy near Ottawa from 2015 to 2018. Court records show he gambled millions on blackjack during this period.
The casino's routine report to FINTRAC, Canada's financial intelligence agency, triggered an investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Grewal stepped down from the federal Liberal caucus in 2018 due to the investigation and the revelation of his gambling problem. He decided not to run for re-election in 2019.
No Bribery Charges
Justice Sylvia Corthorn asserted that there was no proof of breach of trust charges against Grewal or that he had used his political position to solicit loans. She made a directed verdict, dismissing the case based on the prosecution's evidence before the defense presentation.
“I determine that a reasonable jury, correctly guided, could not deliver a guilty verdict,” she stated.
Lawyers for Grewal, if given the opportunity, would have argued that his actions were not criminal. They claimed he had merely received financial aid from the local Sikh community, of which he was a part.
The prosecution pointed to two businessmen from the Brampton area who had each lent Grewal $200K. These men had accompanied the MP on Trudeau’s 2018 trip to India but denied they expected access to the prime minister in return.
Weak Prosecution
Outside court, Grewal’s attorney, Nader Hasan, stated that a "fundamental cultural misunderstanding" formed "the shaky foundation of this prosecution."
Hasan expressed hope that the RCMP and the Crown attorney’s office would view this case as a learning experience, and that future investigations into political corruption would focus on the evidence, considering the diverse cultures and values that make Canada a nation to be proud of.
Hasan also stated that investigators had overlooked the basic question of why the two businessmen had lent Grewal money. Instead, they assumed there was something sinister at play when the true explanation was more mundane.
“It’s the lack of broader perspective I object to — the narrow-mindedness,” he said.
