Ex-Canadian commander Ménard pleads guilty to affair

Beginning of Story Content Retired brigadier-general Daniel Ménard, a former commander of the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan who was accused of having an affair with another soldier, pleaded guilty Thursday at a court martial in Montreal. Ménard was charged with two counts of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline, in violation of the National Defence Act. One charge related to an alleged "intimate personal relationship" with a corporal under his command; the second charge was for allegedly trying to impede a military police investigation into the affair. The general was <a href="http://www.salehandbagsbags.com/"><strong>cheap Chanel handbags for sale</strong></a> initially also charged with four counts of obstructing justice, which were withdrawn before Thursday's hearing. Ménard served as top officer for Task Force Kandahar beginning in November 2009 but was relieved of duty following allegations that he had a ######ual relationship with a subordinate, Master Cpl. Bianka Langlois. His guilty plea came at the start of his military trial. The court accepted the plea but didn't immediately decide what his penalty will be. The maximum sentence would be dismissal with disgrace from the Canadian Forces. A former senior military official told CBC News <a href="http://www.salehandbagsbags.com"><strong>lv handbags</strong></a> earlier that if Ménard behaved as alleged, and did so during a mission, he should be punished. "I can probably name a half-dozen generals who have married, divorced and married, junior ranks people and such, so the question of fraternization is a very broad one," said Pat Stogran, the former Veterans Ombudsman and a retired Canadian colonel who went on several missions. Master Cpl. Bianka Langlois was charged with violating military fraternization regulations. (Courtesy of Global TV) "But in an operational theatre, absolutely no question, it's reprehensible conduct of the highest order and you know he's got no business being in command." Ménard, who had been based at CFB Valcartier near Quebec City, resigned on Dec. 17, 2010. Langlois was convicted <a href="http://www.yixing688.com/Shownews.asp?id=109"><strong>the designer Oakley Sunglasses Sale industry-qing988 _ ... - ä¸*金å�šå®¢</strong></a> of one count of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline. She was reprimanded and fined 700. Ménard fined in 2010 for mishandling weapon In May 2010, Ménard was fined 3,500 for mishandling a weapon. He was handed the fine — the stiffest fine ever levied on a soldier for this offence — after pleading guilty to an offence under the National Defence Act in a court in Gatineau, Que. The incident occurred as Ménard and his boss, Gen. Walt Natynczyk, were about to board a Blackhawk helicopter at Kandahar Airfield. Ménard said he was loading his C8 carbine, when it went off. No one was injured and nothing was damaged, but the National Defence Act makes it an offence to accidentally discharge a weapon. With files from The Canadian Press End of Story Content Back to accessibility links