Pubdate: Thu, 19 Sep 2002
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2002 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Sorcha McGinnis

HEROIN CHARGES DROPPED BY CROWN

Charges have been dropped against a Calgary man accused of peddling heroin 
to a convicted drug dealer paid $275,000 by Mounties to act as their informant.

Minh Truong, 47, walked away from the Court of Queen's Bench Wednesday 
afternoon after Crown prosecutor Bob Sigurdson was handed information the 
defence team called "crucial to the case."

"My client's very happy about it. It seems to me from the overall context 
of the case, the result was the right result. The case should not have 
proceeded after we received late disclosure," said defence lawyer Noel O'Brien.

"I can't get into the details except to say it was important the Crown 
entered a stay of proceedings," he said.

Court heard earlier this week how on Nov. 15, 1999, Cau Tien -- working as 
a mole for the RCMP in Edmonton -- and Const. Leonard Pizzacalla, operating 
under the alias "Big Jim," arranged to meet Truong at a Calgary restaurant, 
allegedly to purchase two ounces of heroin for $7,000.

Tien, whose list of contacts was wanted by police to help them cross names 
off their "target sheet," was stood down as a witness Tuesday as O'Brien 
waited for the information he deemed necessary to continue his 
cross-examination.

The information was en route to Calgary from elsewhere in the province when 
the briefcase it was inside was accidentally switched with another and 
became lost.

O'Brien had grilled Tien about his dealings with the RCMP, and about his 
past, which includes a two-year sentence at Drumheller Institution for 
selling cocaine, as well as outstanding drug charges stayed by the Crown 
that could have sent him back to prison for four years.

The three-day trial that was expected to last until Friday saw a heavy 
security presence by RCMP.

The Crown has one year to take up the charges stayed against Truong, but 
Sigurdson said there was no possibility he would pursue the case.

Timothy Chan, who pleaded guilty Monday to passing heroin on Nov. 15, 1999, 
is to be in court for sentencing today.
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