Evidence of meeting #17 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was gillani.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Mr. Gillani, whom we met, seems to be a good client of the judicial system. Did you look into Mr. Gillani's criminal record and the proceedings instituted against him?
As an Individual
I did a background check with respect to some of his litigation and business dealings and found a string of hard litigations from Vancouver: his arrest for carrying an unlawful handgun, his interactions out there, the subsequent dissolvement of those corporations, as well as when he moved to Ontario. I know he gave you information about being in the business for some 20-odd years; however, none of his corporations survived more than two or three years. He rolls clients into those corporations, dissolves them when the litigation piles in, and then moves on to another corporation.
That was actually a key to discovering what we call the “cookie cutter” to his MO during this commercial crime spree.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Mr. Gillani said in committee that the lady friends—let's call them that—the ladies, the women who joined with him and Rahim Jaffer to dine, were respectable women.
What do you have to say to that?
As an Individual
It's my understanding that his lady friend also holds part-time employment through Cachet Ladies Escorts. Mr. Gillani conducted numerous business activities at a Toronto-area burlesque establishment that he frequently invited clients and business associates to attend with him. He was the host, I believe the proper term would be, of those social evenings. I refer back to the arresting officer's report when the search warrant was executed on him in November, when he was arrested on the current fraud charges that he stands before the courts on. At that time he was found in the company of one of the ladies from the escort agency as well.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Mr. Gillani apparently met Mr. Jaffer and Ms. Guergis in the company of prostitutes when drugs were used. Photographs were apparently also taken.
Were you there? Did you see those pictures?
As an Individual
I was not present at any type of social function of that nature. As I mentioned before, the only information I had with respect to that type of conduct was Mr. Gillani's implication of a social relationship with Mr. Jaffer and Ms. Guergis, which he made during the August meeting.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
You heard that Mr. Gillani had threatened a disgruntled investor that he would disclose compromising photographs. Can you say a little more on that subject?
As an Individual
During the discussion of their business relationship with one of my client's investor principals, I pressured them to confront him over his misdeeds. It was then reported to me that one of them had indeed confronted him--
Liberal
As an Individual
I'm sorry. Can you tell me where we were?
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
You know he apparently threatened a disgruntled investor that he would disclose compromising photographs. I asked you to tell me more on that subject.
As an Individual
One of the principals of the client indicated that at my encouragement, he confronted Mr. Gillani about some of his misrepresentations and that he had sought out Mr. Gillani to discuss them. At such a time they had a few drinks to discuss the matter. When he became particularly concerned with his lack of business success, Mr. Gillani and an associate threatened him with photographs they alleged were of him in misconduct during a party at Club Paradise. He alleged Mr. Gillani had one of his associates stick a gun in his ribs.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
I'm asking you for your interpretation, your assessment. That's why you're testifying before us. You are testifying under oath and you have the protection and immunity offered by the committees.
In your opinion, could Mr. Gillani be the type of individual who is capable of blackmailing Mr. Jaffer and Ms. Helena Guergis, a former Conservative minister for the Status of Women?
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
All right. Mr. Gillani denied that he owned an escort agency called Cachet Ladies. Can you provide us with more information on that subject? I asked him the question and he simply denied that he had owned it.
As an Individual
Our investigation revealed that they are an escort agency operating in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Whistler. Mr. Gillani made the statement that he was an equity or a silent partner in the venture. That was his claim to business associates, etc.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Thank you very much.
Mr. Snowdy, when Madam Coady asked for documents, could you repeat what you said so that legal counsel can give his opinion on that matter?
As an Individual
The private investigators licensing act in Ontario, which regulates the work product of private investigators, holds that information confidential to the client and under the purview and review of the Ontario Provincial Police detachment assigned to scrutinize and maintain private investigators. As such, disclosure of any work product without the client's consent or through direction of the OPP is prohibited under the act.
I'm sure there's a format here to follow to accomplish the committee's interest. I know Mr. Groot's not permitted to respond, but he is an expert on the topic, if you want to address him.
