MFDA Hearing Panel makes findings against Mervin Visneskie
TORONTO, Oct. 30, 2017 /CNW/ - The Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada ("MFDA") commenced a disciplinary proceeding in respect of Mervin Evans Visneskie ("Respondent") by Notice of Hearing dated January 18, 2016 ("Notice of Hearing").
A disciplinary hearing in this matter was held today in Toronto, Ontario before a three-member Hearing Panel of the MFDA's Central Regional Council. After hearing submissions from Staff of the MFDA, the Hearing Panel found that the allegations concerning the Respondent set out in the Notice of Hearing had been established. In particular, the Hearing Panel made the following findings of misconduct against the Respondent:
Allegation #1: Commencing in 2002, the Respondent engaged in personal financial dealings with eight (8) clients by requesting and accepting a total of approximately $764,300 from the clients, which he failed to repay in full or otherwise account for, thereby placing his own interests ahead of the clients' interests and creating a conflict or potential conflict of interest which the Respondent failed to address by the exercise of responsible business judgment influenced only by the best interests of the clients, contrary to MFDA Rules 2.1.4 and Rule 2.1.1.
Allegation #2: Between 2002 and 2013, the Respondent misled the Members with whom he was registered with respect to his personal financial dealings with eight (8) clients, thereby interfering with the Member's ability to conduct a reasonable supervisory investigation of the Respondent's activities and failing to observe high standards of ethics and conduct in the transaction of business, contrary to MFDA Rule 2.1.1.
The Hearing Panel advised that it will issue written reasons for its decision as to misconduct in due course. Submissions with respect to penalty will take place on a date to be determined and announced accordingly.
A copy of the Notice of Hearing is available on the MFDA website at www.mfda.ca. During the period described in the Notice of Hearing, the Respondent conducted business in the Kinburn, Ontario area.
The MFDA is the self-regulatory organization for Canadian mutual fund dealers, regulating the operations, standards of practice and business conduct of its Members and their approximately 83,000 Approved Persons with a mandate to protect investors and the public interest. For more information about the MFDA's complaint and enforcement processes, as well as links to 'Check an Advisor' and other Investor Tools, visit the For Investors page on the MFDA website.
SOURCE Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada
Charles Toth, Director, Litigation, 416-943-4619, [email protected]
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