Sakto Corporation: Canadian Government Issues Final Statement Closing Case

Directs Bruno Manser Fund to Cease and Desist

OTTAWA, Ontario, May 18, 2018 /CNW/ -- After a long and unfounded campaign by Lukas Straumann and Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), Sakto Corporation welcomes the release by the Government of Canada's OECD National Contact Point (NCP) of its Final Statement, closing the case.

"Following a thorough examination of the facts by Canadian Government officials we are pleased to see Canada come to this determination and take a stand against a foreign group misusing the OECD process.  This group has been making unfounded allegations for years," said Duncan Fraser, counsel to Sakto. "We support Canada's diligence and we are pleased with the outcome of this comprehensive process."

In response to the Final Statement, BMF has condemned the Canadian government for "protecting" Sakto.  This follows their pattern of attacking respected authorities and law enforcement bodies who have reached the same conclusion on the same allegations.  Past victims of BMF attacks include Robert Mueller (then Director of the FBI), the RCMP, FINTRAC, Switzerland, Australia, Germany and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.  According to Mr. Fraser, "It is time for BMF to accept the facts and the outcomes, and move on."

OECD Watch has also reported that the Canadian Department of Justice has served them, and BMF, with a Cease and Desist demand for breaching confidentiality by publishing draft confidential OECD documents that the Government of Canada says do not reflect its position. This confrontation follows BMF's loss in other proceedings against Sakto in the Ontario Superior Court in February 2018.

"Mr. Straumann and BMF's complete failure with both Canada's NCP and the Ontario Superior Court make it clear that the questions raised by BMF about Sakto are without foundation," added Mr. Fraser.  "Both of these decisions, and Mr. Straumann's admissions in cross-examination in the law suit, show that an unbiased look at the facts reveals these allegations to be unfounded."

BMF was ordered to pay more than $175,000 in costs to Sakto and the other parties following the Ontario Superior Court proceeding.  The record of the legal proceedings may be found at www.thefactsmatter.ca.

Read the Final Statement by the Government of Canada's NCP. 

Along with the Government of Canada's NCP office, Sakto too considers the matter "closed".

SOURCE Sakto Corporation

Duncan Fraser, counsel to Sakto Corporation, [phone]