More than 15,000 in fines levied in poultry case

August 2, 2005
From a press release

BRAMPTON, ON - Three Ontario men have been fined a combined $15,000 plus victims fine surcharges after an extensive investigation into the illegal slaughter, processing and shipping of uninspected poultry. Forty-five- year old Sinnadurai Rajhkumar of Toronto and 58-year old Yogarajah Navaratnam of Scarborough pled guilty to 26 counts under the Meat Inspection Act receiving total fines of $14,000 and two suspended sentences. Thirty-year old Nigel Beirnes of Listowel was fined $1,000 plus victims fine surcharges for two counts under the same legislation. The case was led by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) with cooperation from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and local public health units.

In three separate appearances over the last three months, the Court heard that an investigation conducted by MNR officers in early October 2004 found that Mr. Rajhkumar and Mr. Navaratnam were killing a considerable number of poultry at locations near St. Catharines and Goderich. The two men then proceeded to sell the uninspected poultry in the Greater Toronto Area. Mr. Beirnes is the owner of the Goderich area farm where the chicken killing first started.

Charges in this investigation included slaughtering uninspected poultry, slaughtering poultry in a manner or with devices not prescribed in the regulations, operating a plant without a licence and applying an Ontario Approved tag to food that was not approved under the Act.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' inspection program is part of Ontario's food safety system, which maximizes the safety of Ontario food products by combining a thorough inspection system with educational programs, laboratory support and a comprehensive legislative framework. The Meat Inspection Act (Ontario) provided for the inspection of animals and carcasses in slaughtering plants, and regulated conditions and methods of operation. This Act has subsequently been replaced by the Meat Regulation (O. Reg. 31/05) under the Food Safety and Quality Act. This legislation is administered by OMAFRA with investigative and prosecution services provided by MNR.

Anyone with information regarding violations of provincial food and inspection legislation is asked to contact OMAFRA's Enforcement Advisor Jim Cushing at (519) 826-4391 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).