EX-MP JAFFER GUILTY OF CARELESS DRIVING

Citing Little Chance Of Conviction, Crown Drops Impaired Driving,
Cocaine Charges

After pleading guilty to careless driving and being told by an
Ontario judge he should "recognize a break when you see one," former
Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer was fined $500 Tuesday.

Jaffer, 38, was initially charged with cocaine possession, impaired
driving and speeding, stemming from an incident last September in the
village of Palgrave, Ont., about 60 kilometres northwest of Toronto.

The Crown in Orangeville, Ont., dropped those charges on Tuesday,
citing that there was no reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction.

Ontario Attorney General Chris Bentley said the decision to withdraw
the charges was a result of talks between the Crown and the defence.

"Everybody has to be treated equally before the law ... whether the
accused happens to be somebody who is known to the public or not
known to the public," he said at Queen's Park.

Outside the courtroom, Jaffer spoke to reporters, apologizing for his
"careless" behaviour. The former Conservative Alberta MP denied he
was ever in possession of drugs or drove under the influence.

"I'm sorry. I know this was a serious matter," he said. "I know I
should have been more careful and I took full responsibility for my
careless driving."

Jaffer -- who is married to Minister of State for the Status of Women
Helena Guergis -- was driving his wife's grey Ford Escape when he was
pulled over for speeding on Sept. 11, 2009.

According to the OPP, Jaffer clocked in at 93 km/h in a 50 km/h zone.
At the time, officers noted "an odour of alcohol on the driver's
breath," OPP spokesman Const. Peter Leon told the media. Jaffer was
given a breathalyzer test, arrested and taken to the Caledon OPP
station, where he provided two more breath samples.

According to police, the tests registered more than 80 milligrams of
alcohol (0.08) in Jaffer's blood. The OPP also allegedly found
cocaine during a search of the car.

In 1997, at the age of 25, Jaffer was elected in the
Edmonton-Strathcona riding as a member of the Reform Party. He served
four terms as the first Muslim MP in the House of Commons until he
lost his seat in the last election.

During his political career, Jaffer was well known for his tough
stance on drugs and was behind a number of Tory radio public service
announcements calling for strict penalties for drug dealers.