The Supreme Court of Canada released its judgment today in World Bank Group v. Wallace. The World Bank Group had conducted an investigation into SNC-Lavalin and shared its information with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This led to criminal charges against a number of individuals under the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act. In today’s judgment, the Court ruled that the World Bank Group is protected by immunity and cannot be ordered to produce documents to the defence. This will have significant implications for the conduct of future foreign corruption prosecutions in Canada.
Xaidsart lawyers, Gerald Chan, Nader Hasan and Tiffany O’Hearn-Davies were counsel to the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, which intervened in this appeal.
Click here to read the judgment.
