Abeed BhimjiOn 2019-08-13, in my trial in the matter of 244069-5-BC, my Probation Officer Abeed Bhimji was called as a witness for the prosecution.
On direct-examination, prosecutor Bernie Wolfe asked Bhimji whether, when I reported to him on 2019-03-15 I had told him what had happened in the court day before. Bhimji said I did not TR 2019-08-13 p67l43-46. Wolfe also asked Bhimji whether, when I reported to him on 2019-03-15, I had informed Bhimji of my intention to turn himself in to CBSA for the purpose of being removed from Canada. Bhimji said I did not TR 2019-08-13 p68l23-25.
At the end of the prosecution's direct-examination of Bhimji, I informed the court I had some documents I wanted to review with Bhimji during my cross-examination but that I didn't have copies (I had no way of obtaining photocopies while in jail). I requested the court's or the prosecutor's assistance in making copies so all parties could follow along during the cross. Wolfe agreed to make the copies. Neither Wolfe nor Bhimji realized prior to that point that I had these documents. Wolfe was visible anxious about me having government documents he didn't know I had, which might be able to prove he and his witness were lying TR 2019-08-13 p69l42-p70l26.
The documents I had, which I had not informed the prosecution of, included a copy of what's called my "Client Log" (or "CLog") from BC Community Corrections (the probation department). The CLog contains all the notes and comments the probation officers make regarding the person on probation - including the notes from each time the person reported.
When Wolfe returned with the copies, I began my cross-examination of Bhimji. I asked Bhimji if he was familiar with the CLog report I handed him. He said he was. I asked him if he recalled testifying on direct that I had not informed him on 2019-03-15 of what had happened in court the previous day. He recalled saying that. I drew Bhimji's attention to page 14 of the CLog report and asked Bhimji if he had written that comment. He had. I read the relevant portion of the CLog entry, where Bhimji had documented me telling him that on the day before I had a hearing to modify my probation conditions but that the application had been denied. I asked Bhimji: Doesn't that completely contradict what you had testified to on direct? Bhimji begrudgingly agreed it did TR 2019-08-13 p78l2-34.
I then turned Bhimji's attention to the next perjurious statement. I asked Bhimji if he recalled testifying on direct about whether I had inform him of my intention to turn myself in to CBSA for the purpose of being removed from Canada. Bhimji did recall saying that. I turned Bhimji to the entry Bhimji had made regarding my interaction with him on 2019-03-15, in the CLog report. The entry stated I had informed Bhimji of my intention to turn myself in to CBSA for the purpose of being removed from Canada. I asked Bhimji whether that, also, contradicted what he had testified on direct. Again, Bhimji begrudgingly had to agree it did, in fact, prove that what he had said on direct-examination, under oath, was false TR 2019-08-13 p78l35–p79l7.
Wolfe and Bhimji, being the ass-clowns that they are, made the foolishly naive assumption that the only CLog entries which were going to be presented in the courtroom would be the one, single entry which was provided to me through Crown disclosure (which Wolfe admitted as Exhibit 8). The entry Bhimji made, stating that I failed to report on 2019-03-19.
Had I not independently obtained a copy of my Client Log prior to the trial, then Bhimji's pernicious testimony would have went unchecked. He would have gotten away with it completely. As it is, even though I proved in court that this lying, sleazy, bastard had just committed perjury, this supposedly trustworthy and credible member of the justice system, had just committed an indictable offense that carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison (in Canada), absolutely NOTHING happened to him – not even a quick stink-eye from the judge! He went right back to being a probation officer and lying and abusing his authority. But at least now, anyone who cares enough to Google his name will find this page.
Hooray for the internet and for the knowledge to create such a wonderfully informative website as this.
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