The Judicial Council will consider the numerous complaints against Judge Matthieu Poliquin over his controversial absolution, but not before the end of August.
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“Councillors […] will examine whether the alleged facts are likely to constitute a violation of the professional standards of the judiciary and, if so, whether there is reason to investigate the complaint,” wrote the Council in response to the complaint from the creator of a petition collecting more than 4,600 signatures, which is an investigation of the magistrate and the annulment of his appointment.
Judge Matthieu Poliquin was the one who granted engineer Simon Houle a parole, sparking public outcry and outrage.
“Do we really want a judge in our justice system who makes decisions like this and is he qualified to do so?” wonders in an interview with Le Journal Kareen Emery, the citizen behind the petition.
Recall that 30-year-old Houle escaped a criminal record despite spotting a drunk friend’s assault and photographing her privates.
But it was mainly the reasons given by Judge Poliquin that triggered a strong reaction from the population.
“Quite fast”
The judge noted that the attack was “broadly rapid” and added that Houle was also intoxicated and this “may help explain the behavior”.
The judge had described him as a “person of good character” and considered that a “conviction would have particularly negative and disproportionate consequences for him” if he could not travel and that this would have repercussions on his career as an “engineer”.
He therefore concluded that a parole “would not harm the public interest” even if the victim had to be hospitalized for dark thoughts in addition to a five-month incapacity for work.
Multiple Complaints
Alongside the petition, many outraged netizens have indicated on social networks that they have lodged a complaint against Judge Matthieu Poliquin with the Judicial Council.
“[Avec une telle décision]we’ve just slipped back into a world where a perpetrator gets off easier than the victim who gets scratched for life,” laments Kareen Emery.
However, she is pleased to see that the Conseil de la Magistrature will consider her complaint and that its members will examine the possibility of conducting an investigation.
The Journal asked the council how many complaints had been received in total.
“In the case of Judge Matthieu Poliquin’s decision, as in all situations preceding the opening of an investigation, I am unable to confirm or deny the fact that the Council has received one or more complaints », indicated by E -Mail me Annie-Claude Bergeron, secretary of the Council.
However, she specified that “given the daylight saving time, the next board meeting is scheduled for the end of August”.