Former City of Winnipeg Chief Administrative Officer Phil Sheegl is appealing the May 4 decision of Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal ordering him to pay just over $ 1 million.
In an appeal filed in court Monday, Mr. Sheegl’s attorney Robert Tapper said Justice Joyal’s decision was incorrect and constitutes an injustice.
In March, Glenn Joyal said Phil Sheegl took a bribe while he was GM of Winnipeg in 2011.
During the alleged events, $ 327,000 was paid to him by contractor Amrik Babakhanians, whose company manages the construction of the police headquarters, a $ 214 million project.
Phil Sheegl reportedly divided the money with former Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz, with whom he owns land in Tartesso, Arizona.
Mr. Sheegl said that the amount paid to him by Mr. Babakhanian was actually interest in that land.
Phil Sheegl’s lawyer says the amount paid to his client by Amrik Babakhanians was received based on an interest agreement related to a land transaction, which cannot be considered a bribe.
In his decision, Judge Joyal also asserted that Phil Sheegl failed in his duty as a high official by accepting a bribe.
Judge erred in saying the duties of Mr. Sheegl as CEO is at odds with his personal interestswritten by Robert Tapper.
The lawyer also asserted that the land transaction was not a reward, advantage or benefit according to the Winnipeg Code of Conduct.
The appeal of Mr. Sheegl is also challenging Glenn Joyal’s judgment claiming that the Court relied exclusively on affidavits from current Winnipeg CEO Michael Jacks.
[M. Jacks] has no knowledge of the facts [dont il est question dans l’affaire] and his evidence is exclusively hearsay, opinion or inaccurate conclusionhe mentioned.
Finally, Robert Tapper contends that the judgment did not take into account the fact that all decisions related to the construction of the police headquarters were made by a large number of committees.
These committees include municipal employees, and Mr. Sheegl has no means to benefit Mr. Babakhanian, as claimed by the Complainantaccording to Mr. Tapper.
The City of Winnipeg did not respond to a request for comment from CBC/Radio-Canada.
With information from Caroline Barghout
Source: Radio-Canada
