Ex-Liberal MP Raj Grewal sees trial extended to fall

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OTTAWA — The trial for former Liberal MP Raj Grewal, who stands accused of utilizing his political workplace for private monetary acquire, will prolong till no less than this fall.

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The ex-Brampton politician faces two breach of belief prices associated to a collection of loans he took out to pay for playing money owed, which he saved hidden from the federal ethics commissioner whereas he served in Ottawa.

Although the trial was initially solely scheduled by late this month, Grewal’s destiny is now left hanging for an prolonged hiatus, with additional hearings tentatively scheduled for November.

The Crown has tried to ascertain that Grewal supplied assist with visas or particular entry to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in change for monetary assist from buddies and businesspeople in his using.

A key witness informed an Ontario court docket final week that he anticipated no particular favours in return for a $200,000 mortgage that he gave to Grewal shortly earlier than he attended a non-public meet-and-greet with Trudeau in India.

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Yusuf Yenilmez, an Ontario businessman, testified throughout cross-examination that as a well-connected Liberal social gathering member, he wanted no assist from Grewal in accessing Liberal officers.

Yenilmez’s presence at a New Delhi reception throughout Trudeau’s February 2018 official go to was at difficulty within the trial, with a former Liberal staffer testifying earlier that his title was on a shortlist of 5 friends Grewal invited to the meet-and-greet.

However Yenilmez stated the occasion had nothing to do with the mortgage and he had already met Trudeau 5 – 6 different occasions.

It was not clear to him that he was accessing something “unique” or meant for “VIPs” by lining up for a photograph with Trudeau on the social gathering, he stated.

And he famous that the images from the India occasion weren’t even the very best ones he had taken with this prime minister — he already had different snaps from “extra non-public” settings.

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Since Grewal’s trial started early final month, the court docket has heard testimony from a wide range of witnesses who stated he requested them for loans whereas he was sitting as a federal MP.

Yenilmez and a number of other different Brampton-based witnesses informed the court docket that they supplied the big sums as a result of they trusted Grewal and regarded him to be a pal — and said that they’d supplied related quantities to different trusted buddies up to now.

One other Ontario businessman, Andy Dhugga, had testified that in his neighborhood it’s not uncommon for folks to assist one another out on this means.

Each witnesses stated they weren’t conscious that Grewal, a lawyer who was elected to symbolize Brampton East in 2015, wanted the cash due to a brewing playing drawback.

Grewal resigned from the Liberal social gathering caucus after his habit got here to public gentle in late 2018, and he didn’t run once more within the 2019 election.

On the time of his resignation, he stated that he had sought therapy for his playing habit, that he solely took loans from family and friends and that he had paid off all his debt.

The RCMP charged Grewal in 2020 with 4 counts of breach of belief and one depend of fraud over $5,000, however solely two breach of belief prices stay.

The subsequent hearings are presently scheduled for the week of Nov. 14.

— With a file from Erika Ibrahim.