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Indian-origin ex-MP's acquittal for cocaine sparks outrage in Canada
Canada News.Net
Thursday 11th March, 2010 (IANS)
An Indian-origin former MP in Canada is in the eye of a political storm after his acquittal by a court on cocaine possession and drunken driving charges.
Thirty-eight-year-old Rahim Jaffer, an Ismaili Muslim of Indian origin from Gujarat who became Canada's youngest non-white MP at the age of 25, was arrested last September for drunken driving and cocaine possession near here.
His acquittal Tuesday after pleading guilty to 'just careless driving' outraged Canadians and embarrassed the ruling party as Jaffer's wife Helena Guergis is a cabinet minister for women affairs.
But the judge threw out charges of cocaine possession and drunken driving against Jaffer who lost in the 2008 elections from Edmonton. The issue rocked the Canadian parliament with opposition MPs alleging 'deal' by the ruling party in the acquittal of Jaffer.
Opposition MP Anita Neville said the ex-MP had been let off with a 'slap on the wrist'.
'The Conservatives (the ruling Conservative Party) are conspicuously silent only when the law's being flouted by one of their own. 'Does this government really believe that the punishment fits the crime?'' the opposition MP asked.
Outside parliament Wednesday, ministers and ruling party leaders ran away from the media, saying that the matter was decided by the court. Opposition Liberal Party leader Warren Kinsella said acquittal of the former MP shows that there are two set of laws in Canada - one for the common man and another for influential people.
'It makes one wonder sometimes if there isn't two levels of justice, one for high-profile people and another for everybody else,'' added Kory Tenecyke, a former aide to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Jaffer's wife also outraged Canadians recently by shouting at security staff at an airport after being asked for security checks.
The MP served four terms from 1997 till his loss in the 2008 parliamentary elections.
(Gurmukh Singh can be contacted at gurmukh.s@ians.in)  Email this story to a friend
Comments on this story
Sheet Head
03-11-10, 07:48 AM |
Indian-origin ex-MP's acquittal for cocaine sparks outrage in Canada
Why would people vote for aomeone this young, & why would he be selected as a candidate in the first place? Because of his background (what real life experience does a 25 year old have?) Because he is a member of a visible minority & people want to appear politically correct? He was still only 25. He should have been thrown in jail, or fined to the degree a white, Christian, English speaking Canadian labourer would have been.This is discriminitory & shows how wrong judges can be. His wife should also be fired from her job - obvious lack of good judgement in no way entitles her to preferential treatment either. She sounds like areal piece of work too.
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Fred.
03-11-10, 09:46 AM |
indian-origin ex-mp's acquittal for cocaine sparks outrage in canada
Well here we are again, our justice system stink again. How much was this judge PAID or what kind of promises was he made so he would give such an acquittal? this judge should be fired and lose his retirement pension. He is not fit to be a judge. Do not blame the ex-PM, blame the judge.Justice should be the same for everybody, rich or poor.As for the the wife of the ex-MP, she is rude and should be treated as such.
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Head Sheet
03-11-10, 03:36 PM |
indian-origin ex-mp's acquittal for cocaine sparks outrage in Canada
These again shows unfit persons in our judicial system & how the present ruling parties has complete disregard for the ordinary person but lets the influential people get away not only with drunken driving but also possession of cocaine - separate level of justice for those with connection to those in power - and we thought that this happens only in Third World Countries.
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