The chief of staff for the premier of B.C. has told a corruption trial involving three former government workers that he didn't authorize cash payments, free trips or meals for the employees.
Martyn Brown told a B.C. Supreme Court jury in Vancouver that conflict of interest rules would prevent employees from indulging in such job-related perks.
When Brown was asked if he authorized Dave Basi to accept cash payments from the lobby firm Pilothouse Public Affairs or U.S. rail company OmniTrax, Brown replied "never."
Brown told the jury that standards of conduct, including conflict of interest rules, were drummed into government workers starting when the Liberal government took office in June 2001.
Basi and Bobby Virk are accused of accepting money and other benefits in exchange for leaking government secrets involving the sale of BC Rail, while Aneal Basi is charged with laundering money in the scheme.
Brown says both Dave Basi and Bobby Virk attended meeting where they were taught that the conduct of government workers must be beyond reproach.
