Mayor Rob Ford is refusing to comment on a report that suggests one of the men he recruited to help coach his former high school football team has a history of violent crime which was hidden from school officials.
Payman Aboodowleh, who served as a volunteer coach with the Don Bosco Eagles up until the end of last season, has been convicted of a long list of offences, including assaulting a peace officer, assaulting his brother and break and enter, according to the report in the Globe and Mail.
The report went on to say that Aboodowleh was able to pass a criminal background check by replacing the “L” in his last name with an “I,” a fact confirmed by a spokesman for the Toronto Catholic District School Board in an email to CP24 Wednesday morning.
“The board was not aware that he was using other aliases. The name submitted by Mr. Aboodowleh for his Toronto Police Service background check was spelled differently,” John Yan wrote. “As a result, the board received no information from this police check regarding an existing criminal record.”
Yan went on to say that Aboodowleh is no longer with the team, having been personally recruited by Ford.
Ford was relieved of his duties at Don Bosco in May.
“Since he was a volunteer brought in by Mr. Ford, Mr. Aboodowleh is longer associated with any TCDSB football program or school,” Yan wrote. “The Don Bosco school community, students and players have all moved on since the departure of Mr. Ford. This is exciting new year for Don Bosco both on the field and academically.”
While he served the football team, Ford was criticized because of some comments he made during an interview about the players. In that interview, Ford suggested the players would not be attending school if it wasn’t for the football program.
It is not known whether Ford was aware of Aboodowleh’s criminal past.
Asked about the story as he made his way to a city council meeting Wednesday morning, Ford simply replied “no comment.”
Ford's councillor brother Doug also declined comment, telling reporters at city hall that they should isntead focus on the gas plant scandal at Queen's Park.
“You guys are worried about the mayor’s friend or associate or whatever? Give me a break," he said. "You should all go to Queen’s Park and start worrying about real issues having to do with people stealing the taxpayer’s money and that’s the provincial government.”
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