NANAIMO, B.C. - A special prosecutor in British Columbia has approved the application to have a senior municipal official in Nanaimo bound by the terms of a peace bond, the province's prosecution service said Thursday.

The service says in a statement the application was approved by special prosecutor Michael Klein, who was assigned to the case of Tracy Samra following her arrest by the RCMP after allegations that threats were uttered at or near Nanaimo City Hall on Jan. 31.

The application was sworn on Wednesday and Samra — the city's chief administrative officer — is scheduled to make a first appearance in provincial court next Tuesday.

Her lawyer, Robert Mulligan, says if the court orders a peace bond, the decision would not be recorded as a conviction but could instead require Samra to abide by certain restrictions.

Mulligan says the case will likely be adjourned on Tuesday while he reviews police reports and speaks Klein.

Nanaimo Mayor Bill McKay has said he was contacted on Jan. 31 by the RCMP about alleged verbal threats made against him and another councillor.

McKay said he was not present for the alleged threat. He said the RCMP told him a witness contacted them about threats that allegedly occurred at city hall earlier that day.

None of the allegations have been proven.

Klein was named as special prosecutor by the province's assistant deputy attorney general to avoid any potential for improper influence in the administration of justice because the alleged incident and some of the complainants are elected municipal officials, the prosecution service said.

A separate investigation by a special prosecutor into allegations involving the city council ended in October without charges being laid. At the time, the prosecution service said the matter related to an unnamed councillor who was arrested and released on conditions, but the issue was resolved without the need for court proceedings.

In December, the city dropped a lawsuit against McKay, who councillors accused of leaking confidential information to an employee. McKay has denied the allegation.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2018