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The former human resources chief of the Canadian military has been charged with sexual assault and indecent acts as the country grapples with a wave of allegations of misconduct and assault leveled against senior officials.
Military police announced the charges against Vice-Admiral Haydn Edmundson on Wednesday.
At least seven generals have been implicated in various scandals over the past year, a crisis that has eroded public confidence in the institution and weakened morale in the military.
The charges brought by military prosecutors come despite a promise made last month by the ruling Liberals that prosecution of military sexual misconduct cases would be turned to civilian prosecutors.
The allegations against Edmundson date back to 1991, when a retired member of the armed forces alleges that Edmundson exposed his genitals to him aboard a Navy ship. At the time, Edmundson, a lieutenant commander, was his superior. Stephanie Viau, who was a 19-year-old delegate at the time, told CBC News that she yelled and told Edmundson her behavior was unacceptable. A few days later, Edmundson raped her, she claims.
Edmundson has denied the allegations.
“Vice-Admiral Edmundson continues to deny any suggestion of criminal misconduct and looks forward to the opportunity to restore his distinguished reputation for service to our country,” his attorney, Brian Greenspan, said in a statement.
Viau’s lawyer, Paul Champ, said his client “will wait for justice to take its course.”
Edmundson resigned in May after the assault allegations first surfaced. He was replaced by Lieutenant General Steven Whelan. But Whelan was also forced to resign his post in October after military police confirmed an investigation into an allegation of sexual misconduct. He too has denied the allegations.
Last month, Defense Minister Anita Anand said she would accept recommendations from a former Supreme Court justice to hand over sexual misconduct investigations to civilian police and prosecutors – except in cases where a investigation is about to be completed. In Edmundson’s case, officials say the case was in its final stages and will be dealt with by the military justice system.
Edmundson is scheduled to appear in Ottawa court on January 25.
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