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A two-page letter sent by El-Chantiry’s lawyer, meanwhile, say the allegations made against the councillor on the recordings are “serious and unfounded.”

Bordeleau addressed reporters at Monday’s police board meeting with a written statement in hand and, unprompted, offered the following:

“We are aware of recent discussions that have been taking place on social media.

“I want to make it very clear that the Ottawa police has not and is not conducting any investigation involving the Ottawa Police Services Board chair Coun. Eli El-Chantiry.

“We are aware of some of the audio recordings that have surfaced on social media. The fact that this false information is being released and distributed has prompted me to launch a chief’s complaint. That investigation will be focused directly on the origins of the recordings and the individuals involved. To ensure transparency and impartiality, I am requesting that an outside police service conduct this investigation and I won’t be making any further comments.”

Bordeleau later clarified that the OPP would be investigating the matter and said he is not “making any assumptions as to who is on those recordings.”

The recordings, which were circulated on the websites YouTube and LiveLeak, alleged in their descriptions that Skof is the one speaking.

The recordings have been posted by Paul Manning, a suspended Hamilton police officer. Last week, Manning posted on YouTube an edited audio recording of a phone conversation between a man alleged to be Skof and another person. The recording was edited in such a manner that only the voice of the man alleged to be Skof could be heard. Manning would later post two more recordings.