Author: Bambi

Armenia and Azerbaijan (earlier).

Russia and Ukraine (ongoing tragedy).

Israel and Iran (forthcoming drill).

China and Taiwan (imminent?).

What is next?

Bambi would like to thank Fred and Louis for respectively finding and sharing a very informative article, published in the Journal de Montréal, entitled “Murder investigation: a police officer fabricated a false warrant using the signature of a judge without his knowledge” [Enquête pour meurtre: un policier a fabriqué un faux mandat en utilisant la signature d’une juge à son insu] (https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2022/05/06/un-policier-a-fabrique-un-faux-mandat-en-utilisant-la-signature-dune-juge-a-son-insu).

Here is a quick translation for you with the help of Mr. Google Translate:

“A Montreal police officer committed a “highly inappropriate” act by using the stamp and signature of a judge without her knowledge to fabricate a false judicial document used during an investigation targeting a murderer.“

This is what our Bureau of Investigation learned in a verdict by Judge Marc David, of the Superior Court, in the case of Frédérick Silva, a killer working for organized crime who was sentenced to life imprisonment last February for three murders committed in 2018.

This decision, made before the start of Silva’s trial last summer, was subject to a publication ban, which was however lifted on Friday at the Montreal courthouse. Without concluding that such a police procedure was illegal, Judge David denounced the “disgraceful” behaviour and the “lack of ethics” shown by agent Guillaume Joly-Tessier, of the City of Montreal Police Service (SPVM), in this investigation.

A first for the SPVM

Frédérick Silva was considered one of the 10 most wanted criminals in Québec and his capture had been raised to the top of the SPVM’s priorities, as our Investigation Bureau had reported for the first time in the Winter of 2019.

The SPVM went all out to find the suspect on the run, using in particular an investigative technique unprecedented in its history, according to the court.

The police used a fake judicial authorization (or warrant) to compel a witness to cooperate with their investigation. And this, in all legality according to Judge David. On February 15, 2019, agent Joly-Tessier therefore went to the Montreal courthouse in order to have this false warrant signed by a justice of the peace.

After reviewing the documents submitted by the agent, however, Justice of the Peace Josée De Carufel refused to sign the false warrant, advising him that he should use another procedure. This is where the agent made a “rash” act, according to the court. “At some point during the meeting, the judge left her office. Agent Joly-Tessier then took the judge’s judicial stamp from her desk and stamped the false judicial authorization, ”explains Judge David.

Craft

After leaving the courthouse, the police officer completed the fabrication of his false warrant by proceeding with what he called “tinkering”. “To do this, he cut out the judge’s signature from another judicial authorization he had in his possession. He then stuck the signature on the authorization on which he had affixed the stamp of the judge. Finally, he added an invented mandate number in the appropriate place and made a photocopy of the document so that it looked credible, ”continues the judge. The Defence, provided by Ms. Danièle Roy, called for a stay of proceedings against Silva, arguing that several means used by the police to apprehend his client were abusive, including the conduct of agent Joly-Tessier. However, the latter was without success.

“The applicant pleaded that the use of the stamp of the justice of the peace by agent Joly-Tessier constitutes theft. However, even accepting this premise, the Court considered that the action taken by Agent Joly-Tessier cannot be qualified as an abuse of process in the specific context of this case,” concluded Judge David, rejecting the motion. He considered that, “without diminishing the reprehensible character of the act made by agent Joly-Tessier”, the latter “was not animated by any malicious intention (…) when he stole the stamp of the judge of peace without her knowledge.

On the one hand, the magistrate conceded that it is “worrisome that “the police borrowed the authority of a judge” in such a way. But on the other, he believed it was justifiable as a means of investigation. “The crimes that are the subject [of this] investigation are the most serious of the Criminal Code, he argued. They are committed continuously while the applicant is on the run and in circumstances that put public safety at risk. Making and using a ‘false’ document (…) is therefore an act proportional to the crimes under investigation.”

Worrisome but allowed

When carrying out certain means of investigation, the police may be authorized to commit certain acts which would otherwise be of a nature to constitute a criminal offence.

This procedure, which is relatively unknown to the public, is governed by section 25.1 of the Criminal Code, which has been in force in Canada since 2002 following the adoption of Bill C-24.

The police calls this investigative technique a “C-24”.

It can be authorized directly by the staff of a police force, without going through the court.

A total of 387 authorizations to commit a “C-24” were granted by the leaders of the police forces of Québec between 2003 and 2020, according to data obtained by our Bureau of investigation from the Ministry of Public Security.

However, Judge David took advantage of his decision to demand that Ottawa amend the Criminal Code so that the use of a false judicial authorization as a technique of police investigation becomes “mandatory” approved by a judge beforehand, which is not the case here.

According to him, “the fact that such an exceptional investigative technique is subject to the sole discretion of a senior official, in this case a senior member of a police force, is a source of concern”.

Is this story acceptable, according to you? She does not about you, but Bambi finds it shocking. Regardless of your answer, how about singing for the bananas… just to conclude this post on a lighter note?

This musical post is about hope for “a better tomorrow”.

Hope for a sunny day after the long rain.

Hope for change following elections’ results.

Hope for love after a long absence.

Hope for peace and prosperity after insecurity and misery.

Hope for an extended hand in friendships among different religions, political views, and nations.

Optimism to shape wise and courageous decisions and acts of love among people, even in baby steps.

Hope for a better tomorrow just for the sake of hope.

To what extent are our brains hardwired for hope and optimism? What about the difference between our expectations and the outcomes of a situation or process? The latter is known as “optimism bias” and it is an integral component of human nature. In processes of adversity, how can we learn to expect the worst yet hope for the best?

Here are some songs related to the topic of a better tomorrow in English as well as in French and Arabic (subtitled in English). Bambi hopes you will enjoy them!

Valérie, your cousin Bambi cannot help not to recall our childhood when she used to tease you by repeating on your birthday that whatever will happen in life, she will remain a year older than you. Well, this comment was in honour of the Lebanese saying “A day older, a year wiser“. Back then, you did not like Bambi’s joke. However, in our middle ages, who knows? Perhaps you are starting to appreciate this “mean” family humour. Regardless, just remember to respect seniors, starting with Bambi :).

Seriously now, the above was meant to make you smile. After all, chronological age is just a number. Bambi loves you so much ❤️, thinks highly of your wisdom, and wishes you a wonderful birthday. Enjoy all the love of your family and friends!

The Lebanese parliamentary elections will take place in a few hours, that is on May 15, 2022. Will they make any difference for Lebanon?

Thank you France24 for your English documentary on this topic. Bambi enjoyed listening to the insights of Ms. Diana Menhem, Managing Director of “Kulluna Irada” [We are all a will] in Beirut Lebanon. Along with this 12-minute-video, you can read the following description: ” On May 15, parliamentary elections will take place nationwide in Lebanon. The Lebanese diaspora, estimated to be double the size of the domestic population, already cast their ballots last week. Around 60 percent of people across 58 countries turned out, slightly more than in 2018. We bring you a special edition of Middle East Matters on Lebanon’s first elections since the mass protests of 2019“.

All the best to Lebanon!

Bambi would like to thank journalist and sister Roula Douglas for tweeting the following moving news:

Bambi’s heart goes to the family of Ms. Shireen Abu Akleh, friends, colleagues, fellow citizens, people/nation, viewers/fans across the world… There is no word to describe the sadness of her loss.

Thanks to the AUB-Lebanon, in partnership with the Yafa Foundation, for establishing an endowed memorial scholarship to honour her memory. Many brilliant students to come will benefit from it and will contribute to keeping the spirit of her devoted work alive.

If she may, Bambi would like to end this brief post with Psalm 51 by Ms. Carla Chamoun in Arabic as a form of a tribute to Ms. Abu Akleh. May her memory be eternal…

Landing in Beirut is almost always a moving experience.

Seeing the mountains, the beaches, imagining our loved ones awaiting us, being eager to walk after a third, or even fourth, connection if we are flying from far away.

If you are flying with Middle East Airlines (Air Liban), you get to listen to Lebanese songs’ beautiful music but without lyrics. A sort of soft music that Bambi associates with trips to her birth country when she hears it on the radio. Well, today, she came across a video showing landing in Beirut taken from YouTube, thanks to Mr. Anthony Rahayel. Below you can see his video, along with his own positive words. Bambi will conclude this brief post with “Helwa ya baladi” [“My country is beautiful“] by Dalida and interpreted by Ms. Hiba Tawaji.

Hello Beirut: Landing in the Capital of Lebanon. “Welcome to those who believe in spreading happiness, to those who believe in the power of dreams, to those who believe in sharing joy, and who would like to join me in my exploration of this beautiful life.”

Thank you Deutsche Welle for your brief documentary entitled “Taliban order women in Afghanistan to cover bodies from head to toe“.

Imagine that Afghani women are now ordered to wear the burqa!

They are also banned from secondary education!

All this in the so-called name of Islam and of God.

We are in 2022, for God’s sake.

Why aren’t we globally denouncing the abuse of women in this country?

Why isn’t the world, including Canada, giving more attention to women’s rights in Afghanistan?

Don’ t they deserve our attention as much as other causes?

Bambi just discovered this INSPIRING VIDEO from September 11, 2020… worth watching until its very end, especially with its wise concluding words. Of course, you have to have the courage to watch it. Indeed, Mr. Helou’s documentary shows us the incredible adversity Beirut’s residents went through on August 4, 2020 following the surrealistic explosion of their port.

Although this 18-minute-video is very sad, it is full of lucidity and thus hope. However, if you consider yourself to be too sensitive to people’s documented suffering, maybe you should refrain from watching it. Unfortunately, if you skip watching it, you will miss the wisdom and the talent of Mr. Helou. You will also miss the beauty of how people came together spontaneously to help from all the parts of the country. People and NGOs literally replaced a government, that is still in the coma up until now… As a reminder, there is still no accountability for this tragedy up until now!

To conclude this brief post, bravo and thank you Mr. Roberto Helou. Bambi is happy she discovered you/your work!

Bambi’s heart is filled with love and gratitude for her mom who also celebrated Mothers’ Day on March 21st, with the spring ❤️❤️!

Happy Mothers’ Day/weekend to all!