Former Liberal cabinet minister Jim Walsh will be spending a few months behind bars for his part in the House of Assembly spending scandal.
Judge David Orr sentenced Walsh to 22 months for fraud and 12 months for breach of trust. The sentences will be served concurrently.
By contrast, former provincial Conservative leader, natural resources minister and government leader in the House of Assembly Ed Byrne got two years less a day for fraud and 18 months for breach of trust, also served concurrently, for his part in the affair.
Walsh is the only one of the politicians charged thus far who opted to plead not guilty and face a trial. That likely had something to do with the sentence. The Crown recommended 18 months while the defence suggested no more than half that time to be served conditionally.
Former Liberal cabinet minister Wally Anderson was sentenced last year to 15 months for forgery and none months for breach of trust.
Former New Democrat member Randy Collins will be sentenced January 15.
-srbp-
3 comments:
Out of curiousity, because I haven't seen this explained, what impact does Walsh declaring bankruptcy have on him having to pay that fine? Does he manage to dodge that?
As I understand it, Walsh can't avoid restitution by declaring bankruptcy.
He still collects any pensions from the House and his private employment so he won't be - in the wonderful lawyer word "impecunious".
The money will have to be paid back.
If you look at the comparable case to compare this stuff to - the Saskatchewan communications fraud - then these sentences are stiff.
In that case, where there was an active fraud campaign to divert money to partisan work, the longest sentence was three years.
That was for bilking taxpayers for a total of $3.0 million in an organized campaign.
As for restitution, French said it's not an issue, as $2,500 a month was being deducted from his pension, and $35,000 to $40,000 had already been paid back by Walsh.
This was quoted by Walsh's lawyer to the CBC.
If the case, we would be restituted in about 40 months.
Wm. Murphy
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