One of the candidates for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party is shedding more light on the events leading up to a cell phone bill from 2012 that totaled tens of thousands of dollars.

PC Leadership candidate Thomas Lukaszuk said a cabinet minister called him in distress, while he was on a personal trip to Poland and Israel in October, 2012.

The candidate said the minister in question, who cannot be identified, told him violence was involved, and police were on the way – the then-deputy premier stayed on the line with the minister until officers arrived.

The next day, Lukaszuk said he contacted the premier’s office. Documents were transmitted and a video conference was held, before it was determined the whole incident was a personal matter involving the minister’s sibling, and was not related to provincial government business.

Lukaszuk claims that finding ended the whole exchange, and said he was just doing his job.

“At that point in time, this was a government matter,” Lukaszuk said.

“You have a minister of the crown who is distraught, says she’s in danger,” Lukaszuk continued. “My job is to make sure that she’s safe.”

Details surrounding the incident, including the name of the MLA in question and her situation are protected by a publication ban.

Documents surrounding the phone bill were leaked to the media earlier in the week, and whoever leaked it could be in legal trouble – as Calgary Police are investigating alleged identity fraud.

“A resident of Calgary’s information was used, including their telephone number and address, and their real name,” Staff Sgt. Travis Baker said. “We’ve determined that that person actually didn’t send the documents whatsoever.”

A local political analyst told CTV News he believes the release of the phone bill was an attempt to stain the candidate’s reputation, a little over a week before PC members vote to choose their next leader.

“There’s no such thing as coincidental timing in politics,” Bob Murray, with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy said. “When you’re a week and a half away from the convention, chances are this is politically motivated.”

Meanwhile, the other candidates – Jim Prentice and Ric McIver – have denied any involvement.

Murray said he hopes police get to the bottom of what happened, before the PC Leadership Convention, so members of the party and Albertans know if political meddling could be to blame.

“I think what’s going to happen is it’s going to backfire on whoever released it,” Murray said.

When news of the documents broke, CTV News reported that Lukaszuk’s staff and executive council staff fought with Telus, the service provider, once $20,000 in roaming was discovered, in an effort to have them reduced.

However, that was not successful, and the bill was paid for by taxpayers.

CTV News has learned that before Lukaszuk’s trip, the provincial government changed government cellular plans to save $6 million annually – the new plans covered data in Canada, but not international data.

Since that bill, the province has started using travel packages when ministers are overseas.

With files from Bill Fortier and The Canadian Press