Shannon Kari July 29, 2010 – 11:31 am
TORONTO — A former immigration adjudicator in Toronto who promised to approve the refugee claim of a South Korean woman in exchange for sex, has been sentenced to 18 months in jail.
The actions of Steve Ellis “call for denunciation in the strongest terms,” said the judge who sentenced him Thursday morning.
“Mr. Elllis undermined public confidence in the integrity of the Canadian immigration system,” said Ontario Superior Court Justice Thea Herman. “He breached the significant trust that had been placed in him,” the judge added. Read More »
Posted in: Crime, Posted Toronto Tags: immigration, Steve Ellis
Megan O'Toole July 24, 2010 – 10:42 am
A disgraced former immigration adjudicator caught offering a refugee claimant a favourable ruling in exchange for sex says he feels “profound remorse.”
Steve Ellis, who was convicted this spring of breach of trust and violating the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, delivered a personal statement on the final day of his sentencing hearing yesterday.
“I never thought in 1,000 years that I would ever be in this position,” Ellis said, noting all his achievements over the course of his life’s work have been “washed away” by the shame of his 2006 crime.
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Posted in: Crime, Posted Toronto Tags: Steve Ellis
Shannon Kari July 19, 2010 – 7:40 pm
A senior Toronto police officer facing a disciplinary hearing over allegations that include sexual harassment and bullying of colleagues complained Monday that the prosecution has been unfair.
The lawyer representing Staff Inspector Steve Izzett suggested Toronto police are using extraordinary resources in a case that could potentially end the career of a one-time rising star on the force. Read More »
Posted in: Posted Toronto, Crime Tags: Police, Toronto Police Service, Toronto Police, TPS
Ontario to release sexual harassment probe regarding Justice of the PeaceBarry Hertz April 21, 2010 – 9:40 pm
By Shannon Kari, National Post
The Ontario government is promising to release the results of an inquiry into a Justice of the Peace accused of grabbing a female colleague’s buttock by the end of April.
Vernon Chang Alloy denied inappropriately touching his colleague at work, when he testified in May 2009 at the three-day disciplinary hearing before Justice William Gorewich.
The complainant, who cannot be named, testified she felt a firm squeeze to her left buttock in July 2006 in an area restricted to Justices of the Peace at the courthouse in Brampton. If there is a finding of misconduct, there could be a recommendation of a reprimand, an apology or even removal from office. Under the provincial Public Inquiries Act, the judge’s report is not made public until it is tabled in the Ontario legislature.
“I can confirm that the Attorney-General is in the process of reviewing the report and it will be tabled very soon,” said Brendan Crawley, spokesman for the Attorney-General’s ministry.
Mr. Chang Alloy, who was named a Justice of the Peace nearly 20 years ago, continues to preside in the courthouse in Brampton. “We are anxiously awaiting the outcome,” said his lawyer Eugene Bhattacharya.
It was the seventh inquiry into allegations against a Justice of the Peace in Ontario in the past two decades.
Judge found guilty of seeking sex in return for positive refugee rulingRon Nurwisah April 21, 2010 – 11:05 am
By Shannon Kari, National Post
TORONTO — A former immigration adjudicator and Toronto city councilor has been convicted of offering to write a favourable refugee claim in exchange for sexual relations.
Steve Ellis, 50, was found guilty Wednesday morning of one count of breach of trust under the Criminal Code and also of illegally seeking a benefit contrary to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Thea Herman concluded that it was clear that Ellis was seeking to trade sex for a positive ruling when he met with Ji Hye Kim at a Toronto coffee shop in September 2006.
“We can do things together on the side,” is a “euphemism” for a sexual relationship, said Judge Herman as she read out her verdict ruling.
“This was not a conversation between two equals,” said the judge, who observed that the actions of Ellis were a “marked departure” from what is expected of an Immigration and Refugee Board adjudicator.
“Mr. Ellis owed a responsibility to the public and the refugee claimants who came before him,” said Judge Herman. “He literally held Ms. Kim’s life in his hands as he leafed through her file. He was trying to use his considerable power for his benefit,” she added.
The central piece of evidence at the trial was an audio and video recording of the meeting, made by Ms. Kim and her boyfriend (now husband) Brad Tripp.
The pristine quality recording was played in court during the trial and showed Ellis talking about how he wanted to help Ms. Kim, even though refugee claimants from South Korea are rarely successful.
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