Former MP Escapes Drug Charge

A plea bargain for the husband of a federal politician means he no longer faces trouble for cocaine possession or drunk driving.

The drug and alcohol charges laid against former Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer have been withdrawn.

Jaffer has instead pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving, and will pay a five hundred dollar fine.

Police pulled Jaffer over about midnight on September 10th in Palgrave, suspending his licence for 90 days after charging him with driving over the legal limit and being in possession of cocaine.

After his arrest, Jaffer told the Edmonton Sun he was confident of being exonerated.

Jaffer is the husband of Simcoe Grey MP Helena Guergis, who is a junior minister in the federal cabinet.

He was an MP, too, until losing his seat in Edmonton in the 2008 federal election.

The federal Liberals called on the Conservative government to order an appeal in the Jaffer case.

But the government dismissed the calls and said it does not get involved in a case under provincial law.