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Vol. 19, No. 36, Wednesday, July 31, 2024 www.LamontLeader.com
Former principal partially vindicated Sexual assault charges dropped in one of two cases against former Lamont principal BY JANA SEMENIUK Former Lamont High School principal Amit Mali, 42, is no longer facing charges of sexual assault and criminal harassment in one of two cases. According to reports, the charges in one case were permanently dropped by the prosecutor at the Sherwood Park Court of Justice on July 17 after text messages between Mali and the complainant were provided by Mali’s lawyer, Eamon O’Keefe. Mali did not attend that proceeding. O’Keefe was quoted saying the messages absolved Mali of the charges. “In these messages Mr. Mali and the complainant talked about the sexual encounters. What the complainant said in those text messages completely con-
tradicted the story she later told the ‘there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction’. police that caused A publication ban the charges to be is protecting the laid,” he said. complainant’s “Mr. Mali said he name. was innocent when Mali was first the RCMP interarrested and viewed him about charged on May 3 these allegations in before being February and he released with conditold the police the tions and scheduled true story at that to appear at the time. He has mainFormer Lamont Principal Amit Mali Alberta Court of tained his innocence Justice in Sherwood ever since. With the withdrawal of the charges, he has now Park on May 29. A second adult female victim came forward to police, after been vindicated.” The Alberta Crown Prosecution charges were publicized on May 14, Service was quoted in reports as saying and said that she was also a victim of
sexual assault by Mali. The Strathcona County RCMP GIS investigated the report and Mali was again arrested and charged with one more count of sexual assault. Mali was ordered, on July 24, to stand trial in that case according to reports, which is scheduled for Sept. 13. According to reports, Mali was principal of Lamont High School from at least 2018 to 2021 before he moved on to the principal position at Sherwood Heights Junior High School in Sherwood Park. EIPS Communication Director Laura McNabb said in an earlier email that Mali was placed on leave after a complaint was received in Feb. and is no longer employed by EIPS.
Coffee with Lamont County Reeve
David Diduck answers some tough questions from ratepayers at personal meeting BY JANA SEMENIUK Lamont County Reeve David Diduck fielded some tough questions during his July 25 Coffee with a Councillor event in St. Michael. At least 25 ratepayers showed up for
Lamont County Reeve David Diduck
a cup of coffee and the chance to ask the Reeve some questions. In attendance were Reeve Diduck, Chief Administrative Officer Peter Tarnawsky, Community Peace Officer Derek Wright, and Communications Coordinator Jay Zaal. Reeve Diduck held a notebook and pen, taking notes and listening carefully as ratepayers questioned him on topics such as “extravagant” truck purchases, dealing with squatters, who is responsible for the weeds growing on train tracks, and rural crime. “Why are all of these new pick-ups bought?” asked one ratepayer. “Everybody out there is driving a new pick up. You’ve got crew trucks out there with one person and a crew truck is for a crew like your culvert crew. Continued on Page 2
At least 25 ratepayers came out to hear Lamont County Reeve David Diduck and ask questions during Coffee with a Councillor on July 25 in St. Michael. Photo: Jana Semeniuk