The head of security at Ontario Lottery and Gaming is taking a leave of absence while Toronto police investigate a potential conflict of interest.
The leave by Michael Sharland, vice-president of corporate security and surveillance, takes effect immediately, OLG chairman Michael Gough announced.
Sharland retired last month as an Ontario Provincial Police chief superintendent. He had been seconded to the lottery corporation as its head of security and went on the organization's payroll after he retired from the force, The Globe and Mail reports.
The Toronto Police, at the request of OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino, is investigating the potential conflict of interest posed by Sharland's dual roles.
"To ensure there is no perception of a conflict of interest, Mr. Sharland will be on a paid leave of absence until the independent review is complete," Gough said in a statement.
Sharland has been embroiled in controversy over his role in suspending a probe into allegations that a disproportionate number of lottery jackpots were being paid to retailers, The Globe reports.
A recent report from Ontario's ombudsman that revealed lottery players have been defrauded out of tens of millions of dollars also showed Sharland sent an internal email in 2004 ordering lottery staff to stop any investigations into insider wins.
Sharland is the second high-profile lottery executive to leave recently.
Duncan Brown was forced to step down as CEO just days before the release of the Ombudsman's report. Brown was paid $720,000 in severance.
