A Toronto cop who pleaded guilty in connection with Project South, a sweeping investigation into alleged police corruption, was sentenced Monday to a conditional discharge. Const. Elias Mouawad pleaded guilty last month to unauthorized use of a computer for his part in the case, which saw 27 suspects—including eight current and former Toronto police officers— facing a series of corruption allegations. Mouawad was previously charged with breach of trust but that charge was previously withdrawn by the Crown. The conditional discharge is subject to the completion of a one-year probationary period. Mouawad must report to a probationary office within two days. York Regional Police revealed the results of Project South in February of this year. Court previously heard that Mouawad broke Toronto Police Service rules to use its computer system to look up a licence plate for a friend. He was subsequently caught up in the review of police databases as investigators sought to find out the source of leaks that were sparking shootings and the attempted murder of a jail supervisor. “Unfortunately, when the information was released to the press, it made our client appear as if he was part of the very, very serious misconduct that has been alleged in Project South when that is not the case,” Mouawad’s lawyer said outside the courthouse on 361 University Avenue in Toronto at the time. With files from Janice Golding and Jon Woodward
