CANADA
Hamilton Spectator
The Hamilton case of a Roman Catholic priest leaving Canada to avoid criminal prosecution of a sexual assault charge is disturbing, says the Progressive Conservative critic for the Ministry of the Attorney General.
“It’s not exactly justice served,” Sylvia Jones, MPP for Dufferin-Caledon, told The Spectator Friday.
“The Attorney General’s office has stated ‘the case is unusual, we are looking at it’ but the silence has been deafening,” Jones said.
Jones was referring to the case of Rev. Jose Silva, who was permitted to leave Canada on May 4 to return to his native Brazil. Silva was on bail at the time and a July 20 trial date had been set to resolve a Sept. 22, 2011 sex assault charge against him involving an 18-year-old male musician.
The ministry has stated there was a deal between a Hamilton Crown prosecutor and a defence counsel to permit Silva to leave. A Canada-wide warrant was put in place — but the charge would only proceed should Silva return to Canada.
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