City’s computer leasing scandal ends
Posted March 15, 2010 11:57 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – Ontario provincial police say they won’t lay any charges in a computer leasing scandal that happened at Toronto City Hall five years ago.
Insp. Dave Ross said in a statement that after a comprehensive investigation, OPP decided there are no reasonable grounds to lay any criminal charges.
Police launched the investigation in 2005 at the request of the City of Toronto.
It followed an inquiry by Justice Denise Bellamy into allegations of conflict of interest, bribery and misappropriation of funds around computer leasing contracts.
In that report, Bellamy found that former city councillor Tom Jakobek received perks from MFP Financial Services lead salesman Dash Domi – brother of former Toronto Maple Leafs player Tie Domi.
It also found credible evidence that Domi gave Jakobek $25,000.
Toronto Mayor David Miller said the city has reviewed or acted on all 241 of Bellamy’s recommendations since the report was released, and will implement the final five by the end of this year.
“While the investigation recommends no formal charges, the scandal and the resulting inquiries shed light on a truly regrettable breach of the public trust that should never have happened,” said Miller.
Among those changes are tougher lobbying guidelines and controls, strong directives on staff ethics and a new policy framework for Toronto’s accountability officers.
Toronto police had asked the provincial force to take over the investigation to avoid any perception of conflict of interest.
Meantime, the leasing deal, which dates back almost a decade ended up costing Toronto taxpayers more than $80-million – double the original estimate.
One city councillor even estimated the MFP price tag to taxpayers was closer to $200-million.
Mayoral candidate Giorgio Mammoliti told 680News after the scandal, the inquiry and the OPP investigation – a truck load of money was wasted.
“You know – this is nothing but a witch hunt. And the witch hunt has gone with nobody to blame – so it’s a waste of $180-million as far as I’m concerned.”
