MLA accused of sexual harassment in sensitivity training, expects to return to caucus

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This article was published 22/12/2016 (3524 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MLA Mohinder Saran is undergoing sensitivity training and expects the NDP will lift his suspension and allow him back into caucus next month, his lawyer said Thursday.

Saran has been under investigation after a formal complaint was made to the legislature’s human resources department in November by a staff member accusing him of verbal sexual assault.

“Mr. Saran has commenced the (sensitivity) course and expects to have complied with the recommendation by early January,” his lawyer, William Gange, said in a letter emailed to media Thursday.

“At that time, Mr. Saran expects to be re-admitted to the NDP caucus.”

The party hasn’t determined Saran’s future, a spokesman said.

“We recently became aware of an allegation made several years ago against Mohinder Saran. We are aware of only one formal complaint to the HR branch,” NDP press secretary Rachel Morgan said in a statement. “Caucus will evaluate Mohinder Saran’s status once the process is complete.”

Last week, the Free Press reported the previous sexual harassment complaint against Saran that is alleged to have occurred sometime before the change of government last spring. In that case, sources say, the complainant was moved into a different job in then-premier Greg Selinger’s office.

That individual was interviewed as part of the HR investigation, an NDP source said.

“That helped them determine a resolution to the latest allegation.”

Gange, however, said in his letter that Saran knows of only one written complaint against him at the legislature.

Saran has not commented directly or through his lawyer.

Gange said that Saran has co-operated with the HR investigation, answering all questions along with providing names of “individuals with supporting information.”

The staff member who made the current complaint has been moved to another position, and is receiving full salary and benefits.

There has been considerable confusion and disagreement involving interim leader Flor Marcelino, NDP staff, and sources within the caucus about when Marcelino first learned of the allegations, at what point Marcelino made caucus aware of the situation and when Saran was suspended.

Marcelino denies allegations NDP MLAs who told the Free Press that she was slow to act and tried to handle the complaint internally, before caucus forced her hand and she suspended Saran.

In an interview Dec. 16, Marcelino repeatedly told the Free Press that she had no knowledge of any earlier allegation against Saran during the Selinger years and would not look into it unless someone came forward with a formal complaint. But Morgan insisted Monday that Marcelino has been aware of the earlier incident since about a week after she learned of the later allegation.

Saran has been the MLA for The Maples riding since 2007.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca

 

 

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