Former director of Nunavut's Ilisaqsivik Society found not guilty of sexual assault

The former director of a non-profit Inuit counselling and community wellness organization in Clyde River, Nunavut, was found not guilty of sexual assault Tuesday during the second day of his trial in Iqaluit. 

The trial, which was scheduled for two days, ended when the Crown asked for an acquittal, after determining the burden of proof could not be met.

Malcolm Ranta was charged in July 2022 with sexually assaulting a woman in Clyde River, where he was serving as director of the Illisaqsivik Society.

He was suspended from his role as director. 

The complainant told the court she knew Ranta as a family friend. Her identity is protected by a publication ban. 

During cross-examination Tuesday from Ranta's lawyer, Solomon Friedman, the woman began crying and had to leave the courtroom.

Crown prosecutor Abel Dion told the court he spoke with her to assess her state of mind during a break, and said continuing the cross-examination could be potentially damaging to her.

"Obviously it has been very difficult for her since the beginning of the cross-examination," Dion said.

Despite saying there was more than enough evidence to charge Ranta, Dion asked Justice Mia Manocchio for an acquittal. 

"As your honour knows, these cases are just very difficult to prove for the Crown ... when the Crown's evidence relies only on the evidence of one complainant," Dion said.

Friedman agreed with Dion's request for an acquittal, and said Ranta was willing and ready to testify.

Complainant testified Monday

Testifying Monday, the woman told the court Ranta inappropriately touched her and proceeded to have sex with her, without her consent.

She said she was out drinking with a friend one night and got into an argument with them, so she went to Ranta's house, where other people were also gathering. 

She said she wanted to leave when everyone else did, but that Ranta stood in front of her asking her not to. 

She initially said Ranta touched her leg while she was there, but later on the second day of court, she said she didn't know if that happened. 

She said they sat beside each other on his couch, and that's where the alleged assault happened. 

During the cross-examination, she said she exchanged "flirty" and "friendly" messages with Ranta following the alleged sexual assault and the two continued messaging for several months. 

She also went on a Ski-Doo ride with him and had another sexual encounter, which she wasn't sure she consented to. 

She testified that the continued engagement with Ranta stemmed from the fact she hadn't realized she had not provided consent to Ranta the date associated with the charge. 

She said she realized this after speaking with her partner on April 22, 2022, about the incident.

She was also unclear about the date of the incident. She first told the RCMP it happened on Jan. 9, 2021, but during the trial said she had remembered the dates wrong and it could have been Dec. 22 or 23 of 2020.

During questioning, she told the court she was unsure of the exact date. 

Ranta declined to comment on the trial and Friedman provided a statement on behalf of his client. 

"Prior to laying a criminal charge, the RCMP never asked Malcolm to provide his side of the story or any supporting evidence," Friedman said. 

"Instead, the police rushed to judgment and in the process, ruined an innocent man's reputation and upended a promising career of service to the most vulnerable in our country."

The Nunavut RCMP did not respond to a request for comment.