TORONTO – An extortion charge laid against a friend of now deceased former Toronto mayor Rob Ford has been withdrawn.
Alexander (Sandro) Lisi had faced the charge in relation to efforts made to retrieve an infamous video of the controversial Ford apparently smoking crack cocaine in May 2013.
Lisi, who was also a driver for Ford, had been scheduled to stand trial on the extortion charge in September.
WATCH: Rob Ford crack video made public
But a Crown lawyer said a resolution had been reached with Lisi’s lawyers on the matter in July, and has asked a Toronto judge for the extortion charge to be withdrawn.
As part of the resolution, Lisi has agreed to abide by certain conditions, which include keeping the peace, maintaining good behaviour and not having contact with certain individuals involved in his efforts to retrieve the Ford “crack video.”
READ MORE: Judge dismisses all drug charges against Alexander Lisi
Last May, in a separate case, Lisi was acquitted of drug-related charges after a judge admonished the Crown for lack of evidence.
In that case, Justice Ramez Khawly suggested Ford was the real target of the police investigation in which Lisi was charged.
VIDEO: Sandro Lisi’s lawyer comments on release of Rob Ford ‘crack tape’
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