Update: Private eye in Guergis case $13M in debt

[RedHot25]

UPDATED

The latest in this saga....

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/201...-responds.html
MP Helena Guergis was informed about the allegations against her, the Prime Minister's Office said on Wednesday, contradicting earlier comments made by the lawyer representing the former cabinet minister.

In an interview with CBC News, Howard Rubel said his client has yet to be told what allegations led Prime Minister Stephen Harper to kick her out of caucus and contact the RCMP.

But Dimitri Soudas, a spokesman for the prime minister, told CBC News that a Conservative Party lawyer informed Guergis of the allegations last Friday, the day she was ousted from caucus.

Soudas said the allegations against Guergis are "serious and credible" and that a Conservative Party lawyer was asked to inform her because of "legal issues".

Also,

Liberal MP Mark Holland questioned why meetings between Jaffer and the Conservative parliamentary secretary in charge of a billion-dollar green infrastructure fund weren't reported to the federal lobbying commissioner.

Neither Jaffer nor Patrick Glémaud, his business partner at Green Power Generation, is registered as a lobbyist.

Holland described the meetings as "the very definition of lobbying, none of it registered."

Transport Minister John Baird acknowledged Brian Jean, his parliamentary secretary, met with Jaffer and Glémaud, but rejected their proposals outright.

"No funding was recommended to any of the projects in question that were discussed, and that is something that has been very clearly stated by the prime minister and the secretary," Baird told the House.

Earlier in the day, Environment Minister Jim Prentice acknowledged that Jaffer asked him in a "30-second conversation" more than a year ago whether he handled the green fund, and he told him he didn't.

[CaptainCrunch]

I also read that her travel expenses were pretty sick. That she allowed her husband to use her parlimentary blackberry and office as well.

I think her career is open. I'm almost happy to see this being investigated in a fairly open manner.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I also read that her travel expenses were pretty sick. That she allowed her husband to use her parlimentary blackberry and office as well.

I think her career is open. I'm almost happy to see this being investigated in a fairly open manner.

Fairly open manner?! No one even knows what the allegations are here (unless it is now public?). I wouldn't call that open at all.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Slava

Fairly open manner?! No one even knows what the allegations are here (unless it is now public?). I wouldn't call that open at all.

Its under RCMP investigation, they're probably not going to release the allegations.

The fact that this isn't getting buried at all is a nice change of pace from the usual governmental process.

[RedHot25]

CBC radio has the ethics commissioner on the radio now. Apparently, the referral to her was "not an official request" and she has very little to go on. There were 2 main criteria for an official referral/request to her to look into things, and she doesn't have either (one I think being the specific part of the Act that is in question).

Also, apparently the ethics commissioner stated she lacks much information to do anything...

Here is some more info in this story: http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/201...missioner.html

Earlier Thursday, ethics commissioner Mary Dawson said she hasn't received a request to investigate Guergis, despite the Prime Minister's Office saying it sent Dawson information about "serious and credible allegations."

Dawson told CBC Radio's The Current host Anna Maria Tremonti that she has not received an official request from Harper to investigate anything relating to Guergis, who remains the MP for the Ontario riding of Simcoe-Grey.

In an email Thursday morning to CBC News, the PMO's Soudas acknowledged Harper did not request or direct any specific action and did not provide "specific details" of the allegations to Dawson or the Mounties, but told them the source of the allegations.

[RedHot25]

Guergis responds now...

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/201...missioner.html

The allegations against MP Helena Guergis are nothing more than "ridiculous boasts" made by a businessman facing fraud charges, the lawyer representing the former Conservative cabinet minister said Thursday.

But media reports named Derek Snowdy as the private investigator who told Conservative Party officials that a probe into Toronto businessman Nazim Gillani uncovered allegations of cocaine use and stock fraud involving Guergis and her husband, ex-Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer.

A Toronto Star report says Gillani claimed to Snowdy that three offshore companies in Belize had been "reserved" to hold cash for Guergis and Jaffer.

The Star report also reported Snowdy as saying he told a Conservative Party lawyer that Gillani boasted he had cellphone pictures of Jaffer and Guergis "partying" with high-class escorts when cocaine was being snorted.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

Those two are married. Wow. Scandal right there.

Liberals... didn't do much better. There's always dirty politicians. Too bad each party always claims it only the other guys.

What are you talking about, the Liberals are way better at being corrupt than the Tories. They get far more money.
The Tories really haven't managed to do corruption well since lyin' Brian stepped down, although its good to see them developing their prospects.

[RedHot25]

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/201...missioner.html

Lawyer Howard Rubel said he and Guergis have finally learned what allegations led Prime Minister Stephen Harper to kick her out of the Conservative caucus last week and refer the matter to the RCMP.

Rubel did not disclose the allegations. But media reports named Derek Snowdy as the private investigator who told Conservative Party officials that a probe into Toronto businessman Nazim Gillani uncovered allegations of cocaine use and stock fraud involving Guergis and her husband, ex-Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer.

A Toronto Star report says Gillani claimed to Snowdy that three offshore companies in Belize had been "reserved" to hold cash for Guergis and Jaffer.

The Star report also reported Snowdy as saying he told a Conservative Party lawyer that Gillani boasted he had cellphone pictures of Jaffer and Guergis "partying" with high-class escorts when cocaine was being snorted.

[CaptainCrunch]

Those MP's they sure know how to paaarrrrtttyyyyy


Yep nothing better then putting yourself into a compromising position as a high powered public figures with hookers, blow and questionable finances.

No matter what happens, I think she's pretty much done.

[Bertuzzied]

I wonder how Rob Anders fits into all of this. He has a hand in everything!

[1stLand]

Maybe Gillani is a liberal supporter, working undercover trying to undermine the conservatives?
That is an Italian sounding name, perhaps he knows Gagliano?

I am really dissapointed in Helena Guergis.
The fact that she would have married a person with low integrity and character in the first place says alot about her.

The fact of the matter is, if your husband is a coke user, chances are you know about it and even partake in the habit.

I hope both of their political careers are ruined.

[aaronck]

She seemed like a real bitch after her airport tirade. Now it seems to be confirmed. Carma is a bitch

[octothorp]

THe PMO was pretty smart in not actually saying what the accusations were, and instead letting that come out through the media. Had these rumours turned out to be false, Gallani would have had a strong libel case against the PMO, but as it is, they stuck to the absolute truth: that they had been informed of some wrong-doing and notified the RCMP. As much as the media and opposition want transparency, saying too much would have put Harper in an extremely difficult position.

[RedHot25]

This just keeps getting weirder and weirder....

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/201...y-guergis.html

The private investigator at the centre of allegations against MP Helena Guergis owed creditors more than $13 million as of August 2009, according to documents obtained by CBC News.

Court records reveal that Derrick Snowdy has filed for bankruptcy, with total liabilities of $13,313,976 and total assets of $11,379 as of Aug. 21, 2009. A decision by the court has not yet been made.

[CaptainCrunch]

Someone please tell me how I can get a 13 million dollar's worth of credit with very little assets.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Someone please tell me how I can get a 13 million dollar's worth of credit with very little assets.

I hear that Rahim Jaffer can get you all kinds of government grants and has a line to the PMO!

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Someone please tell me how I can get a 13 million dollar's worth of credit with very little assets.

Get sued a lot for sticking your nose in people's business.

Looks pretty slimeball too.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Someone please tell me how I can get a 13 million dollar's worth of credit with very little assets.

No kidding.

Not even the greedy s at the credit card companies are stupid enough to give anyone with no assets that amount of credit.

Unless they are....

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Someone please tell me how I can get a 13 million dollar's worth of credit with very little assets.

Probably that spy sat that he purchased.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Someone please tell me how I can get a 13 million dollar's worth of credit with very little assets.

Actually he is supposed to have 11 mill of assets, which is equally weird.
And then got ripped off a few million by a bad employee, which, when you consider assessing potential employees is the bread and butter of firms like this, doesn't speak to his Phillip Marlowe like competence in his field!