Vice-Adm. Haydn Edmundson has been charged following a navy police investigation right into a sexual assault allegation in opposition to him.
Army police laid one depend of sexual assault and one depend of indecent acts in opposition to Edmundson on Tuesday. The case might be dealt with by means of the civilian court docket system.
Edmundson, who had served because the navy’s head of personnel, was positioned on indefinite depart within the spring because the Canadian Forces Nationwide Investigation Service (CFNIS) appeared into the allegation.
He was later changed by Lt.-Gen. Steven Whelan, who stepped apart in October after the launch of a sexual misconduct investigation into him.
READ MORE: Head of navy personnel on indefinite depart amid sexual assault investigation
The investigation was opened after CBC Information first reported that Edmundson was being accused of raping a subordinate lady officer in 1991.
That investigation adopted unique reporting by International Information in February into allegations of sexual misconduct into different senior leaders within the Canadian Forces, which prompted parliamentary committee investigations and an unbiased, exterior overview into the scope of the issue.
Army specialists have deemed the sexual misconduct disaster as an existential difficulty for the Canadian Forces.
READ MORE: Senior CAF officer steps apart months into sexual misconduct investigation in opposition to him
Former Supreme Courtroom of Canada justice Louise Arbour is main a overview into the issue, and in October issued her first interim advice for all sexual misconduct circumstances to be handed over to civilian authorities for investigation except “close to completion.”
Defence Minister Anita Anand introduced she was implementing that advice final month.
TIMELINE: The Canadian Forces sexual misconduct disaster
The Division of Nationwide Defence mentioned in a press release on Tuesday that the Edmundson investigation had been stored with navy police as a result of it met that bar.
“On this specific case, the investigation was close to completion, mentioned the division. “Because the matter is now continuing by means of the civilian justice system no additional data might be launched right now.”
Edmundson denies any allegations of felony misconduct, his lawyer Brian Greenspan mentioned in an e-mail to International Information.
“Vice-Admiral Edmundson continues to disclaim any suggestion of felony misconduct and appears ahead to the chance to revive his distinguished repute for service to our nation,” the e-mail learn.
The costs in opposition to Edmundson come after a number of different senior navy officers have additionally confronted felony fees in current months for allegations associated to sexual misconduct.
Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, the previous head of Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, was charged with sexual assault in August –– he denies the allegation.
Gen. Jonathan Vance, the previous chief of the defence workers, was charged with obstruction of justice in July in relation to alleged conduct throughout the course of a navy police investigation into allegations first reported on by International Information. He has denied the allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
Extra to return.
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