Toronto defence lawyer Leora Shemesh has launched a $1.25 million malicious prosecution lawsuit against Peel police and federal prosecutors alleging she was targeted with criminal charges because she had exposed police corruption.The lawsuit accuses police and prosecutors of conspiring to “fashion charges” against Shemesh “as a reprisal” for twice exposing a Peel Regional Police officer’s “unlawful acts and to suppress their failure to address his misconduct properly,” according to a statement of claim filed late last month in Superior Court. None of the allegations have been proven in court. In May 2015, Peel police officers charged Shemesh with perjury and obstruction of justice. The Crown withdrew those charges 13 months ago after a pretrial hearing in Kitchener, Ont.The defendants “intentionally blurred the separation between investigation and prosecution and used all tools available” to search for misconduct on Shemesh’s part, the statement of claim says.The lawsuit names the Peel Regional Police Services Board and one of its’ senior officers, Insp. Rob Shearer. Also named as defendants are the Attorney General of Canada, the office of the director of Public Prosecutions and four Brampton-based Crown attorneys.Read more: Prosecutor testifying at perjury trial denies trying to conceal police corruption allegationsToronto lawyer cleared of perjury, obstruction charges after defence alleges Crown coverupSecret review finds several ‘issues’ with aborted prosecution of defence lawyer who alleged cover upSean Dewart, the lawyer representing Shemesh, said Friday the claim has been filed in court but not all defendants have been served.Rob Serpe, executive director of the Peel Regional Police Services Board, wrote in email to the Star that the board will not be commenting since the matter is before the courts. Shearer couldn’t be reached for comment about the lawsuit.In an email, a ...
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