Complaints body probes military police's handling of sexual misconduct case

Lt.-Gen. Steven Whelan arrives at court in Gatineau, Que., on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA — The Military Police Complaints Commission is investigating the military's handling of the case against a former general who was ousted from his high-ranking position after a sexual misconduct complaint in 2021.

Lt.-Gen. Steven Whelan was head of the military's personnel when a woman who had been his subordinate accused him of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with her.

He was charged by military police in 2022 with two counts of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline, but military prosecutors dropped the charges during his court martial the next year.

Throughout 2021, the Armed Forces was embroiled in controversy after several high-ranking leaders were publicly accused of sexual misconduct.

Whelan has since filed a lawsuit against the federal government and his accuser.

The head of the Military Police Complaints Commission says if Whelan's allegations against the military police are substantiated, they could amount to "a deliberate failure to properly investigate" the case.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2024.

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Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre for current and former Canadian Armed Forces members: [phone]

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