Alberta construction company alleges Sam Mraiche played hidden role in building of addiction sites
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Mraiche, who is central to the province’s health care procurement controversy, denies involvement
ShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountTwo companies involved in the construction of addiction recovery facilities in Alberta are mired in litigation – with accusations of forgery on one side and allegations on the other of threats and intimidation involving businessman Sam Mraiche, the man at the centre of the province’s health care procurement controversy.The lawsuit raises more questions about the expenditure of public money on a signature health initiative of Premier Danielle Smith’s government. The dispute involves contractor Melewka Homes Ltd., owned by Lewis Semashkewich and his son John Semashkewich, and the similarly named Melewka Construction Management Services Ltd., whose principal is Mohamed Eldassouki. The two companies were working together to build recovery centres in three Indigenous communities: one for the Enoch Cree Nation, another for the Métis Nation of Alberta and a third for the Tsuut’ina Nation. The projects are worth a combined $100-million, according to court filings, and are funded through Alberta government grants.The court feud over recovery centres began last July when Mr. Eldassouki sued the Semashkewiches. According to Mr. Eldassouki’s statement of claim, Melewka Homes president Lewis Semashkewich walked into a bank in early 2025 with an allegedly forged share sale agreement for Mr. Eldassouki’s company and “wrongfully-altered corporate records,” obtained control of its bank account and directed tha...