The defendant was charged with three counts of operating an electrical contracting business without a valid electrical contractor license under the Electricity Act, 1998.
During the trial, the self-represented defendant brought an application for a stay of proceedings, alleging abuse of process due to prosecutorial misconduct, including sarcastic comments, eliciting hearsay, and improper cross-examination.
The court dismissed the abuse of process application, finding that while the prosecutor's conduct was at times unwarranted and sarcastic, it did not render the non-jury trial unfair or undermine the integrity of the judicial process.
On the merits, the court found the defendant guilty on two counts, as he performed electrical work during home renovations without a license and failed to establish a due diligence defence.
The defendant was acquitted on the third count due to insufficient evidence that he performed electrical work at that residence.
