A criminal lawyer pleaded guilty to fraud under $5,000 for defrauding his client's sister of $1,000.
The accused falsely represented that he could obtain the dismissal of criminal charges against his client through bribery of police officers.
After the Crown decided to stay the charges, the accused continued the fraudulent scheme, threatening that the case could be reopened if payment was not made.
The court imposed a six-month custodial sentence followed by two years of probation, finding that incarceration was necessary to reflect denunciation and general deterrence given the accused's position of trust as a lawyer and the serious breach of professional integrity.
