Pubdate: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 Source: Red Deer Advocate (CN AB) Copyright: 2004 Red Deer Advocate Contact: http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2492 Author: Jack Wilson WIRETAP EVIDENCE CHALLENGED A constitutional challenge of wiretap evidence from what is perhaps the largest such investigation in Canadian history is underway in Red Deer court. The challenge is part of a case that has been described as "the largest gang prosecution in Canada." The accused were charged along with 13 other people in police raids in Red Deer on Sept. 24, 1999. Several people charged in Red Deer and Edmonton were suspected of being members of an organized crime ring. The case involved construction of a super courtroom in Edmonton and cost several million dollars in legal expenses. Forty-two people were charged in Edmonton but many were acquitted after courts ruled that their rights had been violated by the Crown's failure to disclose all of the voluminous material. The evidence covered hundreds of thousands of pages. The wiretap portion of the evidence recorded more than 281,000 calls in an eight-month period or an average of 1,100 calls per day for drugs and deals alleged to involve the Edmonton gang and its Red Deer arm. The Red Deer portion of the trial is the only segment remaining and involves the trial of two men charged with numerous drug offences five years ago in Red Deer. The trial of Hai Thanh Le, 29, and Xuan Vinh Dang, 32, has been bogged down in defence motions alleging that they weren't afforded a timely trial and had their Charter of Rights and Freedoms violated. However, Justice Douglas Sirrs ruled six weeks ago that the men's right to a timely trial wasn't violated. Both face charges of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and trafficking in a controlled substance. The Crown obtained 11 convictions in Red Deer. Kevin Sproule of Red Deer represents Le and Barinder Pannu of Edmonton acts for Dang. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D