Despite large section of the mainstream media’s attempts to play down and help cover up perhaps the biggest corruption scandal of any provincial government – the BC Liberal insiders corruption scandal and then a $6 million payoff to cover up the whole thing – has been barking back with a ever since van Dongen hired a lawyer to look into the scandal – known as the BC Rail scandal or Basi-Virk corruption scandal – at his own expense because he believes there are serious unanswered questions.
By R. Paul Dhillon
VANCOUVER – Former Fraser Valley Liberal MLA John van Dongen, who jumped to the BC Conservative party and has become a thorn in the Christy Clark regime, will spell more trouble for the fast sinking BC Liberals as he has been given intervener status in the BC Rail corruption case, where two former Indo-Canadian BC Liberal insiders pleaded guilty to bribing officials after their lawyers were paid a cool $6 million to take the plea deal.
van Dongen, who was granted intervener status by B.C. Supreme Court, won a victory in his bid to uncover why the province paid the $ 6 million legal bills for Basi-Virk, who admitted to bribing but have allegedly been saying that the real scandal and dirty laundry was right at the top at the Premier’s office which set up all the pieces and used the bribe scandal to award BC Rail to Premier Gordon Campbell’s friends.
van Dongen says he’s pleased he can intervene in the case to ensure the public’s money is well spent and that his position as a former cabinet member gives him a unique perspective on government issues.
Van Dongen requested standing in the case after the auditor general filed a lawsuit against the provincial government over $6 million in legal fees paid to Basi and Virk lawyers involving the sale 2003 sale of BC Rail.
Despite large section of the mainstream media’s attempts to play down and help cover up perhaps the biggest corruption scandal of any provincial government – the BC Liberal insiders corruption scandal and then a $6 million payoff to cover up the whole thing – has been barking back with a ever since van Dongen hired a lawyer to look into the scandal – known as the BC Rail scandal or Basi-Virk corruption scandal – at his own expense because he believes there are serious unanswered questions.
At the same time – the provincial Auditor ‘General has been looking into the case where the BC Liberal government paid $6-million to cover the legal fees of Basi and Virk, but he has been met with delay tactics and refusal to hand over documents.
For example, the government can’t provide the bills to the Auditor-General– because it doesn’t have them, court records show.
