Canada's mayor sued over alleged jail assault 'in bid to keep drugs use secret'
Embattled Toronto mayor Rob Ford is being sued by his sister’s ex-boyfriend for allegedly conspiring to have the man beaten in jail to prevent his illicit behaviour from becoming known.
A lawsuit submitted by Scott MacIntyre claims Mr Ford was behind an assault at a Toronto jail in March 2012 that was intended to keep Mr MacIntrye quiet about Mr Ford’s abuse of alcohol and drugs.
Mr MacIntrye, who is seeking $1m in damages, says he was threatened with “dire consequences” if he did not remain quiet. He was in jail after being charged with threatening the mayor, for saying he would expose his “unsavoury activities”, the lawsuit says.
Mr Ford allegedly conspired with Payman Aboodowleh, who coached football with the mayor, to have one of their former players, who was also in jail at the time, to beat Mr MacIntyre up.
Mr Ford and Mr Aboodowleh arranged for staff members at the Metro West Detention Centre to “ensure ”there was no supervision or surveillance of the area“ where the alleged assault occurred, the lawsuit says.
Dennis Morris, Mr ford’s lawyer, said the allegations were “without fact or foundation”. When asked if the mayor had conspired in any way to harm Mr MacIntyre, Mr Morris said: “The answer is no.”
Mr Ford offered no comment when asked about the lawsuit.
The mayor acknowledged last year that he had smoked crack cocaine, but he has resisted pressure to resign.
The lawsuit also names Ontario’s Ministry of Correctional Services, which is responsible for the province’s jails, Mr Aboodowleh and Aedan Petros, the former football player who Mr MacIntyre claims attacked him.
