A lawyer has been allowed to practise despite admitting bribing officials for inside information.
Erik Bornmann was a lobbyist in Canada at the time of the sale of British Columbian Rail. He admitted bribing an assistant of the Finance Minister for leaks of confidential information, but cut a deal with prosecutors whereby he was given immunity from prosecution in return for testifying.
Bornmann subsequently graduated from law school and got a job with a firm - apparently without informing his employer about his past. When the balloon went up he was asked for his resignation, which eventually led to a good character hearing before a tribunal of the Upper Canada Law Society.
And this week Bornmann was held - despite everything - to be of good character. Bormann admitted that he had been "arrogant and amoral". And the tribunal accepted that he had paid bribes for personal gain, and "by the combination of his wits and a good lawyer avoided criminal prosecution". But his lengthy pro bono work for a legal clinic stood in his favour, and the tribunal accepted he had turned his life around.
Bornmann's fate is in stark contrast to that of his fellow Canadian lawyer Ryan Manilla, who was deemed to be of poor character after getting into an unseemly argument with his neighbours.
Tip Off ROF
Erik Bornmann was a lobbyist in Canada at the time of the sale of British Columbian Rail. He admitted bribing an assistant of the Finance Minister for leaks of confidential information, but cut a deal with prosecutors whereby he was given immunity from prosecution in return for testifying.
Bornmann subsequently graduated from law school and got a job with a firm - apparently without informing his employer about his past. When the balloon went up he was asked for his resignation, which eventually led to a good character hearing before a tribunal of the Upper Canada Law Society.
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A bent lawyer yesterday |
And this week Bornmann was held - despite everything - to be of good character. Bormann admitted that he had been "arrogant and amoral". And the tribunal accepted that he had paid bribes for personal gain, and "by the combination of his wits and a good lawyer avoided criminal prosecution". But his lengthy pro bono work for a legal clinic stood in his favour, and the tribunal accepted he had turned his life around.
Bornmann's fate is in stark contrast to that of his fellow Canadian lawyer Ryan Manilla, who was deemed to be of poor character after getting into an unseemly argument with his neighbours.