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Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla's
lawyer says,"The allegations are absolute nonsense."
It is political motivation to scandal
- Ruby's
lawyer produced sworn affidavit from the individual to shovel
snow off their property.
- Also produced records that showed she worked
for just 11 days and signed a receipt acknowledging nothing was
owed.
Brampton, May 09, 2009
J. Gill/Gary Singh
NRI Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla's lawyer Howard Levitt
said allegations levelled at her and her family that they mistreated
three Filipinas hired as domestic workers are false and suggested
they were made as a part of an organized campaign by Dhalla's political
opponents to discredit her. He stoped Dhalla from answering questions
from reporters who wanted to know more about details about the conditions
of their employment. Levitt said:
- Whoever has decided to target her has made a grievous error-
The allegations are absolute nonsense.
- It's a travesty that these false allegations have been deliberately
made in a purposeful attempt to destroy Dr. Dhalla's career and
credibility.
- There's no truth to them
- The only question is: who's really behind them?
- Who orchestrated or assisted or enabled these former employees
of her brother to suddenly come forward one year after the last
of them worked providing care for her mother?"
Ruby Dhalla was very uncomfortable complying with
her lawyer's request not to respond to reporters' questions.Ruby
Dhalla made her first public appearance since the allegations were
published in a Toronto newspaper, said:
- Please, hold judgment, and give my family privacy as we go through
this due process as the facts and the truth come light
- To media--for patience
- The last week has been a difficult and trying time for both
myself and my family.
- Please note, anyone body has ever entered our home has always
been treated with love, with care, with compassion and respect.
- Such the allegations that have been brought forward against
myself have come as a big shock and have been devastating to both
myself and my family, friends and supporters.
Liberal party Leader , Michael Ignatieff, said:
- We've been working closely, in my office, with Ruby Dhalla.
She has mounted a vigorous defence of the charges made against
her.
- They're serious charges. We take them very seriously
- It's tremendously important that every member of Parliament,
everybody in public life treats their employees with the utmost
respect and that they comply in every detail with federal and
provincial law.
- We need to get to the bottom of these allegations quickly, get
closure, both for Ms. Dhalla and the young women in question.
After the allegations, Ignatieff also stayed out of the picture.
Now he spoke to the reporters after Dhalla's press conference
Michael Ignatieff has also stayed out of the spotlight since the
allegations surfaced but, , he spoke briefly with reporters in Toronto.
Interestingly, Dhalla's lawyer produced:
- A sworn affidavit from the individual paid by the Dhallas for
the last five years to shovel snow off their property. That individual
swore that he had never seen any evidence that someone beat him
to his duties. One of the women said she was forced to shovel
snow.
- Other witness statements, receipts and even Dhalla's year-old
airplane boarding passes to discredit allegations made by the
accusers.
- One of the Nanny, Magdalene Gordo told reporters she worked
for the Dhallas for three weeks before quitting and claiming she
was not paid all she was owed. Levitt produced records that showed
she worked for just 11 days and signed a receipt acknowledging
nothing was owed.
On the one hand, by suggesting that she was never the actual employer
of any of the women, that it was her brother Neil, and on the other
hand, by attacking the credibility of the accusers.
In the mean time, citizenship and immigration committee is also
working to hear testimony from Dhalla and her workers whom were
hired to care for Dhalla's mother
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