The Ontario Provincial Police anti-racket squad charged Gord Moodie, head of the city's downtown residential loan program, with municipal corruption and breach of trust yesterday.

A charge of municipal corruption was also laid against developer Denis Vranich. Police allege he paid Moodie $5,000 in November 2005 for helping his father, Darko Vranich, get loans from the city for downtown developments. -- Denis Vranich declined to comment last night.

The Vranich family is behind several local projects, including renovations in Hess Village, and a planned hotel at Bay and Main.

The charges come nearly three years after the OPP investigated the downtown loan program and found no wrongdoing.

The Spectator obtained a copy of a $5,000 cheque to Moodie, dated Nov. 11, 2005, from the Gown and Gavel Restaurant, which Superior Court documents show Denis Vranich co-owned at the time.

Moodie is responsible for a program that offers millions in loans to developers. Darko Vranich received at least one loan from the program. Another was approved, but cancelled because of project delays. More...