A special prosecutor has been named to help the RCMP with an investigation involving Nanaimo city council.
Mark Jetté, a senior Vancouver lawyer, was appointed in December by assistant deputy attorney general Peter Juk, in relation to matters involving Nanaimo city council, the Criminal Justice Branch announced today.
It did not specify what the investigation is about, but in a media statement said the appointment of a special prosecutor is intended to avoid any potential for real or perceived improper influence in the administration of justice in light of the nature of the allegations and the status of the members of Nanaimo City Council as elected municipal officials. Jetté was given a mandate to provide legal advice to investigators as necessary, conduct any related charge assessment and assume conduct of the prosecution if charges were approved.
The statement also said a councillor is currently the subject of release documents imposed by police under the Criminal Code following an arrest for an alleged offence.
“The special prosecutor does not direct the investigation, that’s up to the police to determine who and what to investigate and if they have any questions or require any advice about that over the course of the investigation then the special prosecutor is available to provide that,” said Dan McLaughlin, communications counsel for the criminal justice branch. “Following the appointment of the special prosecutor, an issue arose, a particular council member was arrested and released on conditions and that matter is now under consideration by the special prosecutor.”
He would not say which councillor was arrested or when.
The branch initially postponed the announcement of the special prosecutor pending completion of the investigation but decided to release a media statement following consultation with the special prosecutor and after taking into account the specific circumstances of the case, including the release, on conditions, of a member of council, the statement reads.
The City of Nanaimo also issued a statement that its aware of the criminal justice branch’s appointment, city officials will cooperate with the special prosecutor during their investigation and regular business at city hall continues to take place.
Neither the branch, Jetté or the City of Nanaimo will comment further with the matter currently subject to an ongoing investigation.