What is more important, money or justice?

CANADA - In the legal battle to catch OPP Sgt. Mike Rutigliano, a 28-year veteran of the OPP and currently facing a range of corruption, fraud, conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges, the OPP have decided to make an interesting decision... should they catch the crook who defrauded $15 million? Or catch the crook who committed rape?

They've made a deal with Frank D'Angelo, who has been previously charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice with Michael Rutigliano to obstruct Frank D'Angelo's sexual assault trial.

Here's the facts!

#1. On September 2nd 2010 obstruction of justice charges against Frank D'Angelo were stayed. That doesn't mean the charges have been dropped, merely that they are currently on hold and he can recharged in September 2011 (2 months from now).

#2. The charge of conspiracy also has been stayed temporarily.

#3. D’Angelo will probably be called to testify at Rutigliano’s trial.

(Source: thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/856215--obstruction-charges-stayed-against-beverage-magnate)

Long story short the jist of this is that Frank D'Angelo has made a deal with the OPP to testify against Michael Rutigliano. Note: Michael Rutigliano is believed to be involved in the Italian mafia, so I wouldn't want to annoying him too much. Testifying against him sounds like a bad idea if you're a big blabbermouth like Frank D'Angelo is.

But hey, Frank D'Angelo himself is rumoured to be in the Italian mafia. So all is fair in love and war right?

Wrong. We're forgetting the young woman Frank D'Angelo raped. Where is her justice? Does her suffering mean nothing to the OPP? Or is $15 million worth more than one woman's rape?

The longer Michael Rutigliano's trial lasts the less likely justice will be served in the case against Frank D'Angelo. So even though Frank D'Angelo is "probably guilty" (Justice John Hamilton's words) he will probably go free when the time runs out on the temporarily delay. (There is probably a statute of limitations on how long after the initial conspiracy/obstruction of justice took place.)

A publication ban remains in place for all evidence at the hearing and the trial of Michael Rutigliano. But I can tell you the OPP’s criminal investigation branch executed 21 search warrants across the GTA, Barrie and Hamilton, searching residences, Crown attorney offices and financial institutions.

Oh how I wish I could see the evidence being presented...

The end result will be that Frank D'Angelo will probably get away with rape.

But cross your fingers and maybe the OPP will charge him with money-laundering, fraud and income tax evasion. (Its how they caught Al Capone.)

If only more rapists got caught for other crimes. We'd have a lot less rapists to worry about if they were all caught for fraud, conspiracy, money laundering, income tax evasion and a plethora of other crimes.