Traffic cop acquitted in dubious kidnapping
Toronto police Const. Ioan-Florin “John” Floria wept in Superior Court Friday after a jury acquitted him of six offences, including breach of trust, money laundering and attempt to obstruct justice.
“Thank you jury, thank you,” the 39-year-old traffic cop said, hugging his lawyer, Paul Genua, after the foreman said not guilty six times.
The charges related to two kidnappings, the laundering of $50,000 (U.S.) and obtaining or disclosing confidential Canadian Police Information Centre data.
The prosecution alleged that Floria conducted a sham kidnapping investigation aimed not at bringing those responsible to justice, but to ensure the opposite.
The Crown said Floria did this because he suspected his friends might be involved. But Floria testified the complainant, a fellow Romanian, was a liar and the kidnapping never happened.
Floria conceded that, to some extent, he was in breach of police standards of conduct. But while admitting he made big errors in judgment and did not conduct the investigation properly, he did conduct it in good faith, he said.
The jury retired early Thursday afternoon and returned to court with one question on the moneylaundering count late Friday afternoon. Fifteen minutes later, jurors had reached their verdicts.
Since Police Chief Bill Blair announced charges against Floria in 2007, he has been suspended with pay. He joined the force in 1998 and spent most of it in traffic services as a breathalyzer technician.
For 31⁄ years, he fought vigorous
2 ly to clear his name without a lawyer, after the Toronto Police Association refused to pay his legal fees. He argued in court and filed numerous appeals on pre-trial rulings that went to the Supreme Court.
While he faced three work-related charges, “my association did not help me at all,” Floria said. He is angry a member of the union executive was used in the investigation against him.
Floria says he will continue to fight charges he will now face under the Police Services Act.