The University of Manitoba has asked the Winnipeg police to investigate Jonathan Black-Branch, the former dean of its law faculty, a move that marks a shift from its previous decision to not seek civil or criminal charges. The request reportedly follows the Law Society of Manitoba disciplinary panel hearing, which found that the former dean had “breached his duty of integrity” and “devised a scheme” to wrongfully gain financial benefits. The university welcomed the panel’s findings and, after reviewing the ruling that Black-Branch’s spending “amounted to fraud,” UManitoba stated that it asked the Winnipeg Police Service to investigate further. A group of UManitoba law faculty have also reportedly submitted a letter to the police suggesting that the university “may have documentation and/or additional information that may be relevant” to any investigation into Black-Branch.
