July 7, 2021 – A Nova Scotia judge says the searches of homes belonging to three sisters charged in a $3.6-million tax scheme were routine.
The accused are Georgette Young, Angela MacDonald and Nadia Saker, along with their mother, Lydia Saker. The women have pleaded not guilty to a combined 30 charges, including fraud. They are representing themselves as the trial continues this week in Supreme Court in Sydney.
The sisters claimed they were subject to a Charter violation brought on by what they considered unreasonable searches of their homes. As part of an application made to the court, the women testified alongside their mother and Young’s husband.
CRA investigators testify
The Crown also called several investigators from the Canada Revenue Agency who carried out the searches in November 2017.
In a written decision issued late Monday afternoon, Justice Robin Gogan ruled she was not persuaded that CRA’s conduct was unreasonable.
In the 50-page document, Gogan addressed each search that sought proof that the women took part in what the CRA says is an elaborate tax fraud scheme that involved several companies under their names.
“I accept that the experience was shocking, traumatic, and felt invasive to each of the applicants,” wrote Gogan.
“I conclude, in each case, that this state of mind likely impacted that perception of events.” CBC News reports. | READ MORE
