Ford documents release OK’d
Toronto mayor mentioned in wiretaps
TORONTO — A Superior Court judge has ordered the release of the remaining portions of a search warrant into an alleged drug dealer — and friend of Rob Ford — which is expected to contain wiretaps that mention the Toronto mayor.
Justice Ian Nordheimer ruled Wednesday that nearly all of a 500-page police document can be released to the media, minus some personal details and police investigative techniques. While the Information to Obtain a Search Warrant (ITO) helped lead to the arrest of accused marijuana dealer Alexander Lisi, it is Ford who seems to be the focus of investigators.
“I reiterate that the material represents informations relating principally to the actions of the mayor of the city of Toronto. It cannot be denied that the actions of the mayor are a matter of very significant public interest and concern at this time, as are the actions of the police in relation to them,” Nordheimer wrote in his decision.
“In terms of legal proceedings, it is hard to conceive of a matter that would be of more importance to the public interest, at this particular point in time, than the one that is presented by this case in the context in which it has unfolded.”
The new material contains at least 59 people caught on wiretaps through Project Traveller, a police investigation that resulted in a massive drug-and-gun bust in June. The document will be held until Dec. 6, giving the Crown a chance to appeal.
Lisi has been charged with drug trafficking and extortion in relation to his alleged attempt to obtain the video appearing to show Ford smoking crack.