It would be a travesty of justice for the Conservative government to boot Karlheinz Schreiber out of Canada before the end of public hearings on his financial dealings with former prime minister Brian Mulroney, the head of the inquiry says.
Mr. Justice Jeffrey Oliphant, in a ruling Wednesday, acknowledged he has no legal power to stave off Mr. Schreiber’s extradition to Germany, where he’s wanted on charges of fraud, bribery, corruption and tax evasion.
But the judge strongly urged Justice Minister Rob Nicholson to hold off on any removal order, at least until the end of hearings on June 22 or 23.
The recommendation came as Mr. Schreiber’s lawyers announced they had also filed a separate action in Ontario Court of Appeal raising new legal arguments against extradition.
No date has been set for a hearing in that case, but if the court agrees to deal with the matter it could mean a further delay in deciding Mr. Schreiber’s fate.
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Anyone surprised? Me neither…
If Mr. Schreiber has finished testifying, he should be extradited to Germany. He has played the “woe is me” card to great effect, and its now time for the Germans to take over. Who knows, maybe they have some “dirt” on Mulroney through their investigation that our MSM will gleefully report. Perhaps Jane Taber or Craig Oliver can be sent to Germany to cover the proceedings ad nauseam. Hopefully it takes years. Cheers.
I tend to agree with Oliphant. Until the inquiry has completed it’s work and submitted it’s report he should be kept available. After all what’s a few more weeks when you consider he was ordered deported almost a decade ago and is still here.
I fail to see the rush now.
It’s unfinished business, Jack, and somewhat embarrassing. A couple of weeks won’t make any difference, really, but it would be nice to see Canada stop interfering with German justice.