N.S. abuse victim wants compensation from province

A Halifax man who alleges he was sexually abused by Cesar Lalo, one of Nova Scotia's most notorious child abusers, says he has waited long enough for a settlement from the provincial government.

The man, who cannot be named, said he was 11 when he shoplifted two pairs of sneakers from a Woolco store in Halifax in 1975. His sentence was six months probation, and Lalo was his probation officer.

"There was times that he would take me into his office and sexually abuse me in his office," the man told CBC News on Wednesday. "He sexually abused me in his car."

In 1996, Lalo was charged with more than 100 counts of attempted buggery, indecent assault and gross indecency. That same year, the Halifax man filed a lawsuit against the province — Lalo's former employer.

He said there is no reason that 13 years later, his lawsuit should still be unresolved. He said he was especially frustrated when he heard of a recent settlement with alleged victims of sexual abuse by priests with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish.

"It upset me very much to know that if the Catholic church can settle with their abuse victims, why can't the province of Nova Scotia settle with theirs," he said.

The man said he wants compensation from the provincial government and he wants his MLA, Maureen MacDonald, to help him get it. He said many of Lalo's victims are from the public housing projects in her riding.

Through a spokeswoman, MacDonald said Wednesday it would be inappropriate of her to comment on the case.

Lalo has been convicted of sexually assaulting 29 boys in the years from 1973 to 1989 while working as a probation officer and social worker.

There are 20 active lawsuits involving him. Six of his victims have been compensated.

One man, who is identified in court documents as B.M.G., was awarded $640,000 in 2007.