Sikh-Canadian millionaire Ripudaman Singh Malik’s lawyer Bruce McLeod argued that it was appropriate for Malik to get his legal costs covered because the evidence against him was so weak that the charges never should have been brought. McLeoid also urged the court that Malik has continued to be vilified in the media despite “the clear verdict of the court of Mr. Malik’s innocence,” saying that it was clearly a case of malicious prosecution.
VANCOUVER — Controversial Sikh-Canadian millionaire Ripudaman Singh Malik, who was acquitted of all charges in the Air India trial, is seeking compensation for being wrongly imprisoned after being forced to spend a number of years awaiting trial.
But the Crown is seeking to get the case dismissed, saying the not guilty verdict doesn’t mean that Malik and co-accused Ajaib Singh Bagri were all innocent, this despite the fact that both Malik and Bagri were acquitted of all charges.
Crown lawyer Len Doust urged Justice Ian Bruce Josephson — the original trial judge — to reject a bid by Malik to recoup $9.2 million in legal fees from the B.C. government because of his March 2005 acquittal.
But Malik’s lawyer Bruce McLeod argued that it was appropriate for Malik to get his legal costs covered because the evidence against him was so weak that the charges never should have been brought.
McLeoid also urged the court that Malik has continued to be vilified in the media despite “the clear verdict of the court of Mr. Malik’s innocence.,” saying that it was clearly a case of malicious prosecution.
McLeod said Malik should get his legal fees paid because he suffered through years in custody before his March 16, 2005 acquittal, reported the Vancouver Sun.
Malik has been battling the B.C. government for years over millions it loaned him to pay his lawyers in the terrorism case.
He finally repaid the debt earlier this year, but is now arguing that the court should exercise its jurisdiction and award him legal costs because it is unfair that he should have to bear the burden of his defence.
McLeod suggested Tuesday that the Crown should have laid a perjury charge against the key Crown witness, a former employee who he claims had a vendetta against the Vancouver businessman.
And he said despite Doust’s claim that the Air India case was not exceptional, it clearly was.
“Really political terrorism, mass murder charges are exceedingly rare. This bombing occurred in June of 1985, 27 years ago,” McLeod said. “Nothing like it has happened since in Canada.”
