A former Ministry of Transportation staffer who allegedly deleted email records on the Highway of Tears to prevent them from becoming public has pled guilty, according to multiple news sources.
George Gretes was charged with willfully making false statements following a scathing report from the BC Privacy Commissioner into the so called “triple delete” scandal.
In his initial complaint, whistleblower Tim Duncan says he was searching for email records in response to a Freedom of Information Request.
After finding over a dozen hits, Duncan says Gretes directed him to delete them. When he hesitated, Duncan says he took away his keyboard and deleted them saying; “It’s done. Now you don’t have to worry about it anymore.”
Gretes reportedly denied grabbing the keyboard out of Duncan’s hands, but plead guilty to ‘willfully making false statements to mislead, or attempt to mislead’ in the ensuing investigation.
The crown was looking for the maximum penalty for the offence – $5,000 dollars, however Gretes was sentenced to $2500, with one year to pay the fine.
Former gov staffer George Gretes does not admit and still denies he took keyboard of tim duncan and triple deleted hwy of tears emails.
— Rob Shaw (@robshaw_vansun) July 14, 2016
Judge sentenced Gretes to $2500 fine, saying he shows obvious remorse for unfortunate & unnecessary decision to lie under oath #tripledelete
— Hilary Eastmure (@HilaryEastmure) July 14, 2016