Nanaimo CAO charged in relation to city hall incident

Nanaimo's Chief Administrative Officer Tracy Samra has been charged in connection with an incident which took place atcity hall on Jan. 31, 2018.

Samra faces one charge under section 810 (1) (a) of the Criminal Code of Canada dealing with fear of injury or damage byanother person.

According to the statute,the section would not normally lead to a criminal record and involves the equivalent of apeace bond or restraining order, if ajudge is satisfied by the evidence.

At the time of the alleged incident, Nanaimo city hall issued a news release stating that a personhad been arrested in relation to an incident in which police were called to the building.

Nanaimo Mayor Bill McKaysaid the incidentinvolved threats uttered against several people who work at city hall, including himself.

The RCMP launched an investigation into the incident and the deputy attorney general for B.C. appointed a special prosecutor.

The City of Nanaimo's council has been plagued by controversy in recent years.

In December 2017, the city dropped a lawsuit against its own mayor, who councillors have accused of leaking confidential information to an employee.

With files from CHEK News