Recently appointed B.C. Court of Appeal Judge Elizabeth Bennett is removing herself from a corruption trial in the province.
Bennett feels that her new duties will not afford her enough time for the long-running proceedings, in which the former executive assistants of Liberal Party cabinet ministers are facing charges of fraud and breach of trust. They’re accused of accepting payment for insider information leaked during the $1 billion sale of B.C. Rail.
The trial of Bob Virk and Dave Basi (along with Aneal Basi, Dave’s cousin, who is charged with money laundering) has been going on for over three years, and is likely to continue for at least one more year. But the process of integrating a new judge could delay a verdict even further.
The case began with a raid on the province’s legislature (pictured) in December 2003.
Photo by Nicholas Kenrick