More details about the Lev Tahor community will be released this week, after a Quebec judge ordered the crown to unseal all files surround the investigation.
A judge made the decision Friday, after lawyers representing various media outlets, including CTV, fought to have all of the details made public. This includes the result of a search warrant executed in Chatham and another in Quebec.
Media lawyer, Sebastien Pierre-Roy says a search warrant was issued during those raids, which contained some interesting details.
“In which they say we believe there's a crime that has taken place and we believe we will find evidence of that crime,” he says.
Pierre-Roy argued sealing that information was not necessary and Justice Normand Bonin agreed.
“The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled several times, that every time the police use their power to force its way into private property this should be open to scrutiny by the population at large and the media specifically,” says Pierre-Roy.
In November, 200 members of Lev Tahor moved to Chatham. Just days after, a Quebec judge ordered two families to hand 14 children over to authorities.
Two weeks ago police raided the Chatham and Quebec communities. All details about what police thought they would find will be released Friday and Pierre-Roy expects in the days after a full list of what police seized will also be handed over.
Lawyers for Lev Tahor, and children’s services did not fight against the release of these details, nor did the Crown.
Pierre-Roy feels it’s because this story has become so high profile, that much of what police thought was going on within the community is already publicly known.
“They say from the beginning that we are co-operative, that we did not have any claim that we were not cooperating and now opening our doors,” says sect spokesperson, Uriel Goldman.
All seven media outlets reaffirmed their commitment to not identify the names or images of any of the children involved in these cases.
