Knowledgeable says particulars of alleged assault elevate questions on Chu case

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When Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal College, watched Calgary Coun. Sean Chu’s press convention on allegations of violent sexual assault, he mentioned he knew the opposite facet of the story would finally change into recognized.

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“He had two phrases that he saved saying over, and over, and over once more. The primary was the licensed institution, and the second was ‘I at all times inform the reality,’ ” Bratt instructed Postmedia.

“I knew on the time there was info that hadn’t been reported that contradicts that, and I additionally knew folks have been going to maintain digging into the story. And the contradictions are going to change into totally obvious.”

A teenage woman who accused Chu of a violent sexual assault in 1997 mentioned she had beforehand met the previous police officer a number of instances and that he left her messages after the incident apologizing and asking to see her once more, in response to courtroom paperwork.

The assertion of declare says on Aug. 9, 1997, the 2 had a “probability assembly” exterior a pub the place they exchanged pager numbers and organized to fulfill for espresso. Chu provided to present the teenager and her good friend a journey residence as quickly as he acquired off responsibility, however courtroom paperwork say the alleged sufferer was taken to Chu’s residence regardless of her protests.

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“As soon as contained in the residence, Constable Chu sexually assaulted the plaintiff, with violence,” in response to the assertion of declare. “In the course of the course of the sexual assault, as a way to overcome her resistance to the sexual assault, he produced his Calgary Police Service handgun.”

It’s unclear from the file if Chu ever filed a press release of defence.

The teenage woman’s account outlines a distinctly completely different account of occasions from what Chu described days after the election. Chu has publicly admitted to bringing the woman again to his residence as soon as he was off responsibility, and he claims the 2 mutually agreed to go there. He additionally denied utilizing his police service weapon that evening.

These contradictions can shift the dialog from what occurred over 20 years in the past to Chu’s behaviour since he was elected, Bratt mentioned.

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“Is that conduct as a councillor or is that conduct previous to being a councillor?” Bratt mentioned.

It additionally calls into query the actions of police in the course of the course of, he mentioned. No prison fees have been laid towards Chu, however after the board directed an inner disciplinary investigation in 1999, he was discovered responsible of 1 rely of discreditable conduct in 2003 for caressing the woman’s leg in public, whereas on responsibility.

“Why did the civil go well with languish after which disappear? Why have been there no prison fees? Or is a police listening to adequate? There’s all of those questions in thoughts that also haven’t been answered but,” he mentioned. “This isn’t nearly Sean Chu. That is in regards to the behaviour of the police.”

Mayor Jyoti Gondek and different councillors have beforehand referred to as for Chu to resign, although councillors have instructed Postmedia they’ve very restricted skills to deal with the scenario. On Nov. 1, council exercised one measure by passing a movement to successfully strip Chu of his standing coverage committee appointments.

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Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver launched the findings of an impartial authorized evaluate carried out by Brownlee LLP, which decided the province doesn’t have the authority to take away the Ward 4 councillor both, as he’s a democratically elected metropolis councillor.

Bratt mentioned he agreed with the province’s findings, as giving the province energy to take away elected municipal officers can be a slippery slope. Nevertheless, he says the Alberta Critical Incident Response Staff may determine to reopen an investigation towards Chu.

“There are an terrible lot of questions on how this was dealt with.”

Councillors react

Postmedia requested Calgary metropolis councillors if the brand new revelations modified how they felt in regards to the allegations.

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Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal mentioned he hadn’t but learn {the teenager}’s facet of the report, however nonetheless believes Chu must “inform the reality and inform all people precisely what occurred.”

“I stand in solidarity with (the alleged sufferer). And I feel her story is what I might lean in direction of believing, as a result of Mr. Chu had a number of alternatives to inform us the reality.”

Ward 2 Coun. Jennifer Wyness mentioned she feels the justice system let the woman down, and referred to as on the province to correctly fund the Alberta Crown prosecutor’s workplace in order that they have the assets to research.

“He ought to have stepped down and he has to take lengthy have a look at his actions, however council has exhausted our powers. That’s why it has to return to the justice system and to the prosecutor’s workplace,” Wyness mentioned.

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“I feel it’s essential that the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service is correctly funded, and that they begin explaining why one thing and not using a statute of limitation is just not being investigated.”

Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong mentioned he desires to see the scenario resolved by the correct processes so council can “get again to doing good work,” however didn’t imagine it was honest to name for Chu to step down. He mentioned he hasn’t spoken to Chu because the election.

“The correct reply might be primarily based on testimony and defence,” he mentioned. “I stand with the sufferer and don’t agree with this behaviour … however to give you a last assertion and demand that Sean does a sure factor, I don’t have authority to do this.”

Final week, Chu posted on his web site that he’ll proceed to serve the residents of Ward 4, regardless of council’s resolution to eject him from committee work and the “fixed harassment” that he and his household has endured because the election.

With information from Madeline Smith and Meghan Potkins

bgervais@postmedia.com

Twitter: @BrittGervaisAB