Pubdate: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU) Copyright: 2001 The Gazette, a division of Southam Inc. Contact: http://www.montrealgazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/274 Author: George Kalogerakis FIRST ANGEL GETS BAIL TILL DRUG TRIAL One man accused of being a low-level courier for the Hells Angels got bail yesterday while a second stayed behind bars. The two are the first of 122 bikers and suspected drug-dealers rounded up last month to ask to be let out while awaiting trial. Quebec Court Judge Francois Doyon let Jean Adam out after hearing evidence the Montreal man was seen only once delivering $100,000 to pay for drugs bought from the Nomads, the elite Hells chapter run by Maurice (Mom) Boucher. But the judge refused bail to Dominique Tremblay, who was caught on police video surveillance making numerous money dropoffs to the same place. He delivered more than $1 million, police say. The three-day bail hearing heard that Tremblay, 26, was a runner for the Hells chapter in Trois-Rivieres. Neither man had criminal records. Prosecutors had advised defence lawyers the two men were test cases. What happened to them would affect the other 50 people charged solely with drug crimes. Might Be Appealed Prosecutor Jean-Claude Boyer said Adam's bail could be appealed. Boyer said letting out people involved in such a huge drug network will tarnish the public's image of the justice system. "They should be detained because they work for a criminal organization," he said. "In fact, that criminal organization is the organization that controls the drug trade in Quebec." The Hells' deadly war with the rival Bandidos over control of the drug trade in the province is responsible for all these new anti-gang laws being passed, he added. Boyer's office was hoping to keep all 50 people charged in Montreal with drug offences behind bars. Another 40, charged with first-degree murder for their alleged parts in 13 killings, will almost surely be refused bail because the charges are so serious. Boyer said his office will decide next week what to do about Doyon's decision to let Adam out. "This decision sends a hopeful message to those with no criminal records and whose participation in the crimes is sporadic," he added. A Surete du Quebec investigator has testified the Nomads controlled a billion-dollar-a-year business that distributed cocaine and hashish to all the other Hells chapters in the province. - --- MAP posted-by: Kirk Bauer