CANADA
Hamilton Spectator
More than 10 months since a Hamilton priest facing a sexual assault charge was allowed to return to his native Brazil, the Ministry of the Attorney General is not commenting on the status of the investigation into the controversial deal.
Ministry spokesperson Brendan Crawley would only say “there is nothing new to report at this time.”
He did not respond directly to questions about the status of the investigation, whether the ministry has taken any action or the status of the assistant Crown attorney in question, Carey Lee.
Reverend Jose Silva was permitted to leave Canada in early May 2012 in a deal struck between Lee and Silva’s defence lawyer, Dean Paquette.
Silva, a former guest priest at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, was facing a charge of sexual assault following a complaint by an 18-year-old musician. As part of the deal, a countrywide warrant would be issued for his arrest should he return to Canada.
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