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A B.C. RCMP sergeant that had a sexual harassment case dismissed, will be back in front of the Conduct Board after his superiors appealed the decision.

According to a recently published Aug. 23, 2021, RCMP Conduct Authority decision, Staff Sgt. Bari Emam will now have a second hearing after six different women made complaints about him.

The case dates back to 2017 when an investigation into Staff Sgt. Emam's behaviour began.

The decision said in 2017 a civilian member of the RCMP contacted the internal RCMP harassment unit to discuss a situation she had been experiencing that involved Staff Sgt. Emam.

"In her statement, the complainant provided names of other female employees who had experienced similar behaviour from (Emam)," the decision said.

The RCMP then spoke to other alleged victims who all described inappropriate behaviour.

"Consistently, the statements described unwanted touching or inappropriate behaviour directed at them by (Emam) and all reported their experiences as unwelcome," the decision said.

Following the internal investigation, six allegations, from six women, were taken to the RCMP Conduct Board for a hearing.

The decision is very light on precise details but said between 2016 and 2017, Emam sought a romantic relationship with a subordinate, which constituted an abuse of authority under the RCMP Code of Conduct.

In 2016, he inappropriately kissed the cheek and hugged a civilian staff member.

Another complaint came from a detective constable who said Emam had kissed her on the cheek and hugged her.

A detective corporal accused Emam of kissing her on the lips and hugging her.

Another allegation dates back to 2011 and claims that Emam made inappropriate comments to a female RCMP constable.

The staff sergeant also stands accused of inappropriately squeezing the arm/bicep of a civilian staff member in 2014.

READ MORE: 'Discrimination against white females:' RCMP officer fined after verbally abusing border officer

Staff Sgt. Emam worked in the Lower Mainland as a member of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

The decision said after the first allegation was made in 2017, the RCMP made the decision to take the case straight to the RCMP Conduct Board, and bypass internal RCMP human resources procedures.

In 2020, Staff Sgt. Emam successfully argued that heading straight to the Conduct Board had denied his legal right to a fair hearing under the duty of procedural fairness.

The Conduct Board adjudicator agreed and dismissed his case ordering a stay of proceedings.

However, the RCMP appealed and the Conduct Authority adjudicator ruled the case should go back for a hearing.

The case focused on the technical legal proceedings the RCMP has to follow in such cases.

"I find that the decision to stay the conduct proceedings to be clearly unreasonable and direct the matter to proceed to a new hearing before a differently constituted conduct board," the adjudicator ruled.

No date has yet been set for a new hearing for Staff Sgt. Emam.

READ MORE: B.C. Mountie fired for showing sexually explicit photos of himself to victim wins appeal

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