Should it come as a surprise that criminal charges against prospector Donald McKinnon have been dropped? He had been charged in connection with the disappearance of some files from the mining recorder’s Thunder Bay office, files which relate to a civil lawsuit that could result in McKinnon losing royalties worth millions of dollars from two of the gold mines at Hemlo.
It would be inappropriate for The Northern Miner to comment on the civil suit one way or the other except to state who is involved and around what circumstances the suit is based. To comment on McKinnon’s fate regarding the criminal charges might be considered commenting on the civil suit, so we will refrain from doing so.
Apart from those specific instances, however, it is interesting to speculate what effect it has on one’s reputation and on one’s ability to conduct normal business affairs after being charged with fraud or some other such criminal offence.
Presumably, the Crown had sufficient evidence to warrant laying charges against McKinnon. Yet on further investigation, the evidence was apparently insufficient to pursue the charges. One hopes that whoever is subject to treatment such as that, will be able to resume their lives and conduct their affairs untainted by the brush with police.
Somehow, it seems unlikely.
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