A high ranking officer in the Sûreté du Québec, the police force stationed in Montreal and throughout the province, has been suspended from duty amidst allegations of fraud and a breach of trust.
Montreal’s chief of police, Philippe Pichet, released a statement on twitter last week noting that the officer’s suspension was immediate and will remain in place until the investigation has concluded. Pichet didn’t give the name of the officer.
However, earlier Friday, he confirmed provincial police are looking into allegations involving issues with overtime hours and bonuses received by his right-hand man, Imad Sawaya, in 2015.
He also said those issues have already been verified and there were no anomalies. But someone tipped off a mixed police squad, headed by the SQ and set up by Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux to investigate the force’s internal affairs, to potential problems.
Last Thursday, montreal police raided the downtown headquarters Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) Thursday in connection with the probe.
The SQ’s deputy chief informed Pichet around 4 p.m. ET Thursday that search warrants would be executed at different buildings belonging to the City of Montreal in connection with the probe.
Members of the SQ’s team arrived at SPVM headquarters around 6 p.m. Pichet said he was still at his office at the time.
They were looking for a specific file, he said. Pichet also said the investigation has no impact on the day-to-day service the force provides Montrealers.
Sawaya has not been arrested and the allegations against him are being looked into.
Read the full story over at the CBC.
This story was summarized by Canadian Fraud News Inc.
