Councillor defends licensing of tow-truck drivers in bike-gang murder

Two Toronto tow-truck drivers found murdered along with six other men in a bike gang-related incident in southwestern Ontario did not have a criminal record when they applied for their licences, says a city councillor.

John Filion, chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee, told CBC News Online that neither George Kriarakis, 28, or George Jesso, 52, would have been denied a licence to work in the tow-truck industry.

Both were allegedly "full patch" members of the Bandidos motorcycle gang.

• FROM APRIL 11, 2006: Mass killings mean Angels win turf war says expert

Filion's claim came Tuesday after provincial Government Services Minister Gerry Phillips, and Public Safety Minister Monte Kwinter called for municipalities to review rules for tow-truck drivers, and tighten guidelines regarding giving licences to people with criminal records.

"George Kriarakis, I am told, definitely had no criminal record, and the case of Jesso, since he was licensed in 1994, they would have to go back and check the files, but [staff] have no reason to think he had a criminal record," Filion said.

"That doesn't mean that everybody who drives a tow truck in Toronto is a saint, but in order to go after someone's licence, there has to be evidence, there has to be conviction."

The Ward 23 councillor also responded to suggestions by the opposition at Queen's Park that anyone with a major criminal conviction can still get a tow-truck licence in Toronto.

Filion said licences are denied to anyone guilty of a "major crime," such as murder, sexual assault, assault, robbery," plus drug crimes involving trafficking or use of heavy drugs.

In Toronto, he said, city staff does a background investigation before a licence is granted, and that check is redone every four years, unless the police inform staff that a major crime has been committed in the meantime.

"Having said that, if somebody is charged and not convicted, that does not give us grounds to go after them to get their licence pulled if there isn't a conviction," Filion said.