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Case information

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37564

Krishnan Suthanthiran, et al. v. Attorney General of Canada on behalf of the Kingdom of Belgium

(Ontario) (Criminal) (By Leave)

Docket

Judgments on applications for leave to appeal are rendered by the Court, but are not necessarily unanimous.

List of proceedings
Date Proceeding Filed By
(if applicable)
2018-01-22 Close file on Leave
2018-01-19 Copy of formal judgment sent to Registrar of the Court of Appeal and all parties
2018-01-19 Judgment on leave sent to the parties
2018-01-18 Judgment of the Court on the application for leave to appeal,
The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Number C62547, 2017 ONCA 343, dated May 1, 2017, is dismissed.
Dismissed
2017-12-04 All materials on application for leave submitted to the Judges, for consideration by the Court
2017-08-18 Applicant's reply to respondent's argument, (Book Form), Completed on: 2017-08-18 Krishnan Suthanthiran
2017-08-08 Certificate (on limitations to public access) Attorney General of Canada on behalf of the Kingdom of Belgium
2017-08-08 Respondent's response on the application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2017-08-08 Attorney General of Canada on behalf of the Kingdom of Belgium
2017-07-12 Correspondence received from, (Letter Form), Scott C. Hutchison (by mail). RE: Questionnaire CA order. Krishnan Suthanthiran
2017-06-30 Letter acknowledging receipt of a complete application for leave to appeal but without formal Court of Appeal order
2017-06-29 Application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Final C/A order missing (received 2017-07-12), Completed on: 2017-06-29 Krishnan Suthanthiran
2017-05-19 Letter acknowledging receipt of a notice of application for leave to appeal
2017-05-19 Correspondence received from, Matthew Gourlay dated 2017-05-17. Re: Complete application to be filed within the deadline Krishnan Suthanthiran
2017-05-19 Certificate (on limitations to public access) Krishnan Suthanthiran
2017-05-19 Notice of name Krishnan Suthanthiran
2017-05-19 Notice of application for leave to appeal, (Letter Form), Completed on: 2017-05-19 Krishnan Suthanthiran

Parties

Please note that in the case of closed files, the “Status” column reflects the status of the parties at the time of the proceedings. For more information about the proceedings and about the dates when the file was open, please consult the docket of the case in question.

Main parties

Main parties - Appellants
Name Role Status
Suthanthiran, Krishnan Applicant Active
Best Theratronics Ltd. and Best Medical Belgium Inc. Applicant Active

v.

Main parties - Respondents
Name Role Status
Attorney General of Canada on behalf of the Kingdom of Belgium Respondent Active

Counsel

Party: Suthanthiran, Krishnan

Counsel
Names
Scott C. Hutchison
Matthew R. Gourlay
Contact information
Henein Hutchison LLP
235 King Street East
1st floor
Toronto, Ontario
M5A 1J9
Telephone: (416) 368-5000
FAX: (416) 368-6640
Email: shutchison@hhllp.ca
Agent
Name
Owen Rees
Contact information
Conway Baxter Wilson LLP
400-411 Roosevelt Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
K2A 3X9
Telephone: (613) 780-2026
FAX: (613) 688-0271
Email: orees@conway.pro

Party: Best Theratronics Ltd. and Best Medical Belgium Inc.

Counsel
Names
Scott C. Hutchison
Matthew R. Gourlay
Contact information
Henein Hutchison LLP
235 King Street East
1st floor
Toronto, Ontario
M5A 1J9
Telephone: (416) 368-5000
FAX: (416) 368-6640
Email: shutchison@hhllp.ca
Agent
Name
Owen Rees
Contact information
Conway Baxter Wilson LLP
400-411 Roosevelt Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
K2A 3X9
Telephone: (613) 780-2026
FAX: (613) 688-0271
Email: orees@conway.pro

Party: Attorney General of Canada on behalf of the Kingdom of Belgium

Counsel
Name
Jeffrey G. Johnston
Contact information
Attorney General of Canada
2127 - 284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H8
Telephone: (613) 941-3528
FAX: (613) 957-8412
Email: jeffrey.johnston@justice.gc.ca
Agent
Name
Robert J. Frater Q.C.
Contact information
Attorney General of Canada
50 O'Connor Street, Suite 500, Room 556
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 6L2
Telephone: (613) 670-6289
FAX: (613) 954-1920
Email: robert.frater@justice.gc.ca

Summary

Keywords

Private international law – Mutual legal assistance – Criminal law – Sending order granted pursuant to Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act – Sending hearing judge declining to impose terms and conditions in sending order – Whether the lower courts erred – Whether there are conflicting authorities – Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 30 (4th Supp), s. 15.

Summary

Case summaries are prepared by the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada (Law Branch). Please note that summaries are not provided to the Judges of the Court. They are placed on the Court file and website for information purposes only.

Mr. Suthanthiran heads a group of companies which includes Best Theratronics Ltd. and Best Medical Belgium Inc. Belgium sought assistance from Canada under the mutual legal assistance treaty between the two countries. On behalf of Belgium, counsel for the Attorney General of Canada obtained a search warrant under s. 12 of the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 30 (4th Supp). The warrant authorized the search of Best’s offices in Canada for records relating to what Belgium regarded as criminal transactions. The premises were searched and records seized. A judge of the Superior Court of Justice made the sending order, but declined to attach any terms or conditions restricting access to the documents to those involved in the criminal prosecution. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

Lower court rulings

June 17, 2015
Ontario Superior Court of Justice

13167, 2016 ONSC 2162

See file

March 30, 2016
Ontario Superior Court of Justice

13167, 2016 ONSC 2162

See file

June 30, 2016
Court of Appeal for Ontario

M46358, 2016 ONCA 525

See file

May 1, 2017
Court of Appeal for Ontario

C62547, 2017 ONCA 343

See file

Filed documents

The memorandums of argument on an application for leave to appeal will be posted here 30 days after leave to appeal has been granted unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of the memorandum by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613-996-8666 or at 1-844-365-9662.

If you have questions about a memorandum of argument or want to use a memorandum of argument, please contact the author of the memorandum of argument directly. Their name appears at the end of the memorandum of argument. The contact information for counsel is found in the “Counsel” tab of this page.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

The factums of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here at least 2 weeks before the hearing unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of factums by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613-996-8666 or at 1-844-365-9662.

If you have questions about a factum or want permission to use a factum, please contact the author of the factum directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each factum.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

The condensed books of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here upon receipt of the electronic version, 2 days prior to the scheduled appeal hearing. You may also obtain copies of condensed books by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613-996-8666 or at 1-844-365-9662.

If you have questions about a condensed book or want permission to use a condensed book, please contact the author of the condensed book directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each condensed book.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

Webcasts

Not available.

Date modified: 2025-02-27