logo
Vancouver mayor suing his former chief of staff for defamation

Vancouver mayor suing his former chief of staff for defamation

CTV News24-05-2025
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is suing two men, including his former chief of staff Kareem Allam, for defamation, according to documents filed in B.C. Supreme Court Friday.
Sim's lawsuit alleges Allam and real estate developer Alexander George Tsakumis made 'false and defamatory' statements about the mayor.
The statements in question relate to an alleged incident in which Sim was supposedly caught driving drunk by Vancouver police, who let him go without citing him for any offence.
Sim denies that any such incident took place, and an investigation by B.C.'s Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner concluded there was 'no objective evidence of an interaction between members of the (Vancouver Police Department) and the plaintiff,' according to the lawsuit.
The OPCC investigation concluded the allegations were 'baseless,' the lawsuit states.
Sim's notice of civil claim alleges that Allam told Tsakumis and others about the purported impaired driving incident, and that Tsakumis later posted about the incident on social media, calling it 'one of the most shameful acts by a mayor of this city. Ever.'
Both men are alleged to have made their comments either 'with malice, knowing them to be false,' or in 'reckless disregard' to the truth.
The allegations against Allam and Tsakumis have not been proven in court and neither man has filed a formal response to Sim's claim.
Speaking to CTV News by phone on Friday, Allam said it is 'a matter of public record' that he was not the source of the allegedly defamatory rumours. He said he would 'vigorously defend the truth.'
The lawsuit notes that the allegedly defamatory words were republished in anonymous flyers that circulated during Vancouver's recent byelection for two empty city council seats.
Allam described the lawsuit as 'a cheap, political distraction' and attacked Sim's record, saying the mayor has made 'zero progress' on his agenda while raising property taxes 'more than any other mayor in the history of the City of Vancouver.'
'Every single aspect of his platform that he's run on, he's failed on, and this is a distraction away from his failures,' Allam said.
In a written statement, Tsakumis also described the lawsuit as political.
'It won't be the first or last time this mayor is more interested in petty politics and frivolity over the needs of the fine people of Vancouver,' he said, in an email.
'His claims against me are vexatious and entirely meritless. My legal team looks forward to seeing how he holds up at trial, under oath.'
Sim's claim seeks general, aggravated and punitive damages, as well as a permanent injunction preventing the defendants from 'directly or indirectly making, publishing, disseminating or broadcasting the defamatory words, or words of like or similar effect.'
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Spencer Harwood
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Police searching for girl, 12, missing since June
Police searching for girl, 12, missing since June

CTV News

timean hour ago

  • CTV News

Police searching for girl, 12, missing since June

Khalida Moar, 12, was last seen in Winnipeg on June 8, 2025. (Winnipeg Police Service) Winnipeg police are concerned about the well-being of a 12-year-old girl who hasn't been seen in over a month. Khalida Moar was last seen at 10:30 p.m. on June 8 in Winnipeg's Silver Heights neighbourhood. She is described as five-foot-seven with a medium build, black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black hooded sweater, black sweatpants and white Nike shoes. Police said Moar is known to frequent Brandon and Dauphin. Anyone with information on her location is asked to call police at 204-986-6250.

Man, woman charged with attempted murder in North Bay
Man, woman charged with attempted murder in North Bay

CTV News

timean hour ago

  • CTV News

Man, woman charged with attempted murder in North Bay

The North Bay Police Service charged two people this week with attempted murder in connection with an assault and robbery that took place in January. (File) The North Bay Police Service charged two people this week with attempted murder in connection with an assault and robbery that took place in January. The 37-year-old man and 28-year-old woman remain in custody, police said, in connection with the Jan. 27 'targeted' attack in the West Ferris area of the city. 'The accused and co-accused now face numerous criminal charges in relation to the incident,' police said in a news release Thursday. Police responded at 5:21 a.m. on Jan. 27 to a report that a man had been 'severely assaulted.' Emergency responders found the victim, who had several head wounds and a serious arm injury. 'The male was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries,' police said. Arrested July 23 The criminal investigation section took over the case, working with the forensic identification unit and the OPP digital forensics unit. The accused and co-accused were identified and arrested July 23. The man is charged with attempted murder, robbery with violence, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and weapons possession. The woman is charged with attempted murder and robbery with violence. Both suspects are from North Bay. They are scheduled to appear in bail court later in the day Thursday. Acting deputy chief Jeff Warner described the incident as a 'horrific attack.' Warner praised investigators who 'painstakingly worked through the evidence.' 'Their efforts culminated in the arrest of the two accused, who are believed to have committed this horrific attack, along with the execution of multiple search warrants,' Warner said in the news release. 'These lengthy investigations further demonstrate our members' dedication and continued commitment to the community they serve.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store