Halton Region manager accused of getting Mercedes, Las Vegas trip as kickbacks
A former Halton Region manager is facing charges of corruption, fraud, kickbacks and forgery involving infrastructure projects worth tens of millions of dollars
TheStar.com
Sept. 17, 2016
San Grewal
A Halton Region manager who oversaw infrastructure projects worth tens of millions of dollars is facing allegations that he received a Mercedes Benz, renovations to his house and a trip to Las Vegas as kickbacks for helping companies get contracts.
In a case being called “extraordinary,” David Ohashi, a 16-year veteran with the region who oversaw Halton’s waste water initiatives, faces eight charges, including three counts of accepting secret commissions, three counts of municipal corruption, fraud under $5,000 and using a forged document.
“This was one of those investigations where everywhere I turned something corroborated what was being investigated,” said Det. Const. Keith Nakahara, who is handling the case for the Halton police fraud unit.
Ohashi, 56, was “released from employment” after an internal investigation, according to Halton Region. He was scheduled to make his first appearance in Milton court Tuesday, but the matter was postponed for two weeks.
Nakahara said that while Ohashi was overseeing projects worth tens of millions of dollars, it’s important to understand that the amounts involved in the allegations against him “are very, very small compared to the value of the projects. The alleged profits he made personally was a very small amount . . . some of his alleged benefits weren’t even financial.”
According to the charges filed in court, Ohashi allegedly accepted a 2010 Mercedes C300 for granting a contract to a construction company, as well as airfare to and from Las Vegas for granting a contract to a separate company. He allegedly accepted home renovations from a third company.
Nakahara said none of the companies have been charged.
The forgery charge is for an alleged expense claim for travel outside Canada that was not for work. The charges don’t make clear where the alleged trip occurred.
Nakahara said it appears from his investigation that some “sub-parts” of projects overseen by Ohashi were not needed.
“Part of the Crown’s theory will be that some of these sub-parts were unnecessary, that the public paid for some things that it didn’t need, but that’s before the courts,” the officer said.
He said the investigation is ongoing. The allegations haven’t been tested in court.
Outside court, Ohashi’s lawyer Domenic Basile called the case “extraordinary” but wouldn’t comment on anything else regarding the charges. Ohashi, a Mississauga resident, didn’t respond to a request for comment for this article.
Halton Region spokesperson Heather Anderson said Ohashi was “released from employment” in January 2016. She said the allegations have hit the local government hard.
“We are very concerned and disappointed about the charges laid against this former employee,” she wrote in an email. “The administration and employees of Halton Region are committed to the highest standards of corporate accountability, transparency, responsibility and integrity. These allegations, if proven, would be inconsistent with the values and behaviors of the dedicated 2,500 Halton Region employees who serve taxpayers and make a tremendous contribution to our community every day. Halton Region continues to fully co-operate with police.”
Anderson wrote that the region “has a rigorous Code of Conduct and a comprehensive Corporate Fraud Policy. We have a robust program of controls in place to prevent or identify inappropriate behaviour including: a strongly adhered to purchasing bylaw, and related policies and procedures and an internal audit group.”
Nakahara said there is no indication any other any other Halton staff were involved in the alleged offences. He also said that because the investigation found no other staff involved, senior officers and the Crown's office determined there was no conflict of interest with the region's police force investigating.
