Toronto tycoon tried to stop probe into Trudeau fundraising, days before he and wife were found strangled

Late pharmaceutical tycoon Barry Sherman sought to quash an investigation into his fundraising for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberals just days before his death, according to a report on Wednesday.

The 75-year-old chairman of Apotex and his 70-year-old wife Honey were found dead of strangulation in their Toronto home last week, police said. Media reports said they were both found hanged next to their indoor swimming pool. Apotex is the largest maker of generic drugs in Canada, and the Shermans’ fortune was estimated at more than US$3 billion.

Police said Sunday they were investigating the deaths as “suspicious”, but stopped short of calling them homicides, while family and friends rejected media reports that it was a murder-suicide.

According to federal court documents, Sherman tried to block subpoenas of two Apotex executives issued by Karen Shepherd, Canada’s commissioner of lobbying, to compel them to speak with investigators.

The lobbying commissioner is tasked with ensuring that those who lobby public officials act transparently, are accountable and comply with a code of conduct.