Pubdate: Tue, 30 Aug 2005
Source: Dose (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 - DOSE
Contact:  http://www.dose.ca/vancouver/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3875
Author: Daniel Tencer

DRUG PENALTY WORRIES CANADA

Canada will petition Taiwan's government not to implement the death penalty
if MATHIEU FORAND is found guilty on charges of drug trafficking, the
Foreign Affairs department says.

Taiwanese authorities say FORAND, an English language teacher in Taipei from
the Vancouver suburb Port Moody, was the "kingpin" of an international drug
ring that smuggled cocaine, marijuana and ecstasy in textbooks into Taiwan,
selling the drugs in pubs and over the Internet. He was arrested over the
weekend after a three-month investigation by the Taiwanese coast guard. He
and a Taiwanese-American, an alleged accomplice, are in Taiwanese custody,
the Taipei Times reports.

FORAND's father expressed concern that his son may have been forced to sign
a statement for police that he did not understand.

"From what I've heard, he's signing things without knowing what they are,
without having them translated," PETER FORAND told the Vancouver Province.

Liberal MP DAN MCTEAGUE, the parliamentary secretary responsible for
Canadians abroad, said he had no knowledge of the senior FORAND's
allegations, but stressed the government is providing consular services to
Forand and will "ensure he has proper legal representation."

PAMELA GREENWELL, a spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Canada, said yesterday
that if he's found guilty and the death penalty is recommended, the Canadian
government will petition Taiwan not to give him a death sentence.

But there is little under international law that Canada can do to interfere
in another country's legal process. 
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