The blogosphere is already filled with cries of "special treatment". I don't think so -- it's fairly common for weak impaired cases to be pleaded down to careless. Usually the Crown sees a decent chance of losing flat out and then agrees to a plea to careless. The drug charges may well have been tainted by an improper search.
Overall a good result for Jaffer but not one reflecting special treatment.
http://tiny.cc/pandabear119Former Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer pleaded guilty Tuesday in an Ontario courtroom to careless driving and must pay a $500 fine.
Jaffer had been charged with impaired driving and possession of cocaine but those charges were dropped. Jaffer will also donate $500 to charity.
Outside the Orangeville courthouse, Jaffer apologized for his actions and acknowledged the seriousness of the charges. But he said he was pleased the ordeal was over.
"I'm relieved. It's been a long period that it's carried on," he said.
Crown attorney Marie Balogh said in court that after a careful review of the case, it was decided to drop the other charges because there were significant legal issues and no reasonable prospect of conviction.
"I'm sure you can recognize a break when you see one," Ontario Court Justice Doug Maund told Jaffer.
Jaffer's lawyer, Howard Rubel, said his client was adamant that he never drove while impaired and had always denied the drug allegations.
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