The former head of the coordination of the anti-Covid vaccination campaign in Canada, who had to leave his post because of a military investigation concerning him, is officially accused of sexual assault, he said Wednesday 18 August to the media.
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The alleged facts date back to 1988, when Dany Fortin was studying at the Royal Military College of Canada in Quebec, his lawyer said. The officer strongly denied these accusations. “
I have had the honor and privilege of serving Canadians for 36 years in difficult circumstances, in difficult places, including combat zones. But today, I am fighting against an invisible enemy, an invisible adversary
”, declared to the press Dany Fortin, who in the Canadian army has the rank of“
major-general
”. "
It is the most difficult test of my career,
" he added.
He is due to appear in court on September 20.
The one who led the NATO mission in Iraq had left his post of coordinator in May because of a military investigation concerning him for allegations of sexual assault.
Dany Fortin had previously been sent to Bosnia, with the UN peacekeepers, as well as to Afghanistan where he led Canadian troops.
Several investigations targeting high-ranking officers
“
We recognized from the start that we had to transform our armed forces.
We have taken concrete measures for several years but obviously a lot remains to be done as we can see,
”commented Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a press briefing.
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The Canadian Armed Forces have been shaken for several months by a series of investigations into senior officers targeted by allegations of sexual misconduct, including former Chief of the Defense Staff, General Jonathan Vance.
Jonathan Vance retired earlier this year before the allegations, which he denies, were made public.
In July, he was charged with obstructing justice.
His successor, Admiral Art McDonald, also left office a few weeks after his appointment, after the opening of an investigation into similar charges.
Last week, that investigation against Mr. McDonald was closed without charges being brought against him.
In addition, at the end of April, Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan instructed former prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) Louise Arbor to conduct an independent investigation into the handling of cases of sexual harassment within the army.