Three former top executives of the Ontario Provincial Police Association and two of their business associates were charged Thursday with fraud and money laundering following a 19-month RCMP probe into allegations of misuse of funds.
The investigation, led by investigators with the RCMP’s financial crime and anti-corruption units, centred on allegations that the union leaders “secretly benefited” from contracts that had been arranged between the OPP Association and two companies — a travel agency and a consulting firm — according to court documents.
Charges of fraud and money laundering were laid against James Christie, 48, the union’s ex-president; Martin Bain, 50, the former vice-president; and Karl Walsh, 52, the former chief administrative officer. All three are sworn officers with the OPP and remain suspended with pay, the force said Thursday.
The same charges were also laid against Andrew McKay, 54, a Toronto lawyer who often represents officers accused of wrongdoing, and Francis Chantiam, 60, of New Jersey, police said in a news release. (He is identified as Noel Francis Chantiam in court records). (more...)
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