Pubdate: Thu, 14 Feb 2002
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2002 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Shannon Kari, Southam News

CHARGES STAYED, BUT DRUG-SQUAD MYSTERY REMAINS

Toronto Officers Were Accused Of Stealing From 'Fink Fund'

TORONTO - A long-running investigation into allegations of corruption 
within the Toronto Police force remains shrouded in mystery, despite the 
surprise announcement yesterday that all criminal charges have been stayed 
against eight officers.

The officers, all former members of the drug squad, had been charged with a 
total of 75 theft-related offences in November, 2000. The charges involved 
allegations that the officers stole relatively small amounts of money from 
a "fink-fund" that was supposed to be used to pay informants.

The Department of Justice has also stayed or dropped about 130 drug 
prosecutions in Toronto in the past two years, which is widely believed to 
be because the officers were involved in the investigations.

"We are staying the proceedings against the eight accused because 
proceeding with the charges may compromise an ongoing criminal 
investigation," Crown prosecutor Rosella Cornaviera said yesterday in a 
packed basement courtroom at Toronto's Old City Hall.

The Crown is allowed to resume a prosecution within one year of issuing a 
stay or charges must be withdrawn.

But the decision to stay the fink-fund charges has only added to the 
mystery surrounding the investigation into the Toronto police force.

"Somebody waved the wand and the charges went away," said Gary Clewley, 
another lawyer for the officers.

The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney-General and the federal Department of 
Justice declined to comment yesterday because of the ongoing investigation.

A statement released by Toronto Police said the eight officers "will remain 
on non-frontline restricted duties," which do not include direct contact 
with the public.

A source familiar with the investigation said a seven-month-old 
investigation of the Toronto force, headed by RCMP Chief Superintendent 
John Neily, will ultimately lead to more serious charges against some officers.

Supt. Neily was called in by Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino last 
summer to head the unit, which is made up of about 20 internal affairs 
detectives.

At the time, Chief Fantino admitted the investigation included allegations 
of perjury. A Department of Justice document made public last year 
suggested there was evidence two of the officers lied about their use of an 
informant as far back as a 1995 drug investigation.

So far, the Neily probe has resulted in cocaine trafficking charges against 
one Toronto Police constable who is not connected to the fink-fund officers.

The initial allegations of corruption first surfaced nearly three years 
ago, when a number of criminal lawyers wrote to the Internal Affairs 
department of the Toronto police. The lawyers claimed some drug-squad 
officers were stealing large amounts of money and jewellery from their 
clients during police raids.

No charges were laid as a result of these accusations. But an internal 
audit led to the fink-fund charges against the former drug squad members 
and five other officers. Recently, all charges were withdrawn against three 
of those officers and a number of the charges faced by their two colleagues 
were also dropped.

The drug prosecutions affected as a result of the corruption allegations 
have ranged from minor cases to a $50-million heroin seizure code-named 
Project Pizza.
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