No charges in Hamilton PC nomination investigation

Hamilton police have concluded there is “insufficient evidence” to lay criminal charges after allegations of fraud and forgery at a Progressive Conservative nomination meeting.

Following a probe dating to May 2017, police said Monday that “the investigation is closed pending any new evidence that may be brought forward.”

The controversy, which began during former PC leader Patrick Brown’s tenure, stemmed from a complaint by Vikram Singh, a lawyer and runner-up in the four-contestant race for the Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas Tory nomination.

Singh, who had also launched a civil action against the Tories alleging “wrongful insertion of false ballots,” felt that he was robbed of the nomination, which was won by Ben Levitt. Levitt later lost the riding to NDP MPP Sandy Shaw in last year’s election.

The Conservatives always denied any wrongdoing.

“At issue were a number of ballots, all marked in what appeared to be a similar manner, all of which are believed to have originated from the credentials referral desk,” Hamilton police said.

“These ballots were all votes for Ben Levitt. The investigation revealed that many of the credentials referral forms appeared to have been falsified. Individuals whose names appeared on the credentials referral forms were interviewed, and indicated that they did not attend the meeting and did not vote,” police said.

“Furthermore, one of the identified individuals listed on the credentials referral form had passed away a week prior to the nomination meeting being held.”

Police, who interviewed 150 witnesses and executed 15 warrants, seized 1,800 PC party ballots, 345 credentials referral forms, and 1,648 pages of email correspondence. “During the extensive investigation, several persons of interest were identified. Two arrests were made, but those individuals were subsequently released unconditionally,” police noted.

“Hamilton police have reviewed the matter with the Crown attorney and at this time, there is insufficient evidence to proceed with the laying of criminal charges.”

Singh, for his part, said he had no regrets about pushing the matter forward.

“The investigation is the first of its kind in Ontario to protect the foundations of our democratic institutions,” he said.