Pubdate: Thu, 02 Nov 2006
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2006, The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Gary Mason

B.C. CASE PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON MOUNTIES' METHODS

VANCOUVER -- The RCMP has a lot riding on a sensational case arising, 
in part, from the force's bold raid on the British Columbia 
Legislature almost three years ago. If you're going to pull off a 
move like that -- and instantly ruin careers and reputations in the 
process -- you'd better have the goods.

So far, at least, the actions of the Mounties in this high-profile 
case have not been cast in the best light.

This week in pretrial hearings at B.C. Supreme Court, for instance, 
it was revealed that the force was twice refused permission by the 
courts to wiretap a provincial government cellphone, but got the 
go-ahead on a third attempt by not telling the judge the phone was 
registered at the legislature.

After getting approval, the Mounties then inadvertently eavesdropped 
on a conversation between Premier Gordon Campbell and his finance 
minister, who was using the phone of the ministerial aide the RCMP 
was targeting.

Most of the attention stemming from the raid on the legislature has 
focused on that aide, Dave Basi. Mr. Basi has been charged with 
influence peddling in connection with a company's bid for the 
publicly owned BC Rail, which was previously up for sale.

Although Mr. Basi has yet to be found guilty of anything, he was 
fired a day after the raid was conducted on Dec. 28, 2003. The 
Premier's office was apparently informed by the RCMP that charges 
against Mr. Basi were imminent.

As it turned out, he wouldn't be charged until a year later.

In September of 2004, the RCMP announced that after a two-year 
investigation it was laying drug charges against Mr. Basi and seven 
others. In Mr. Basi's case, the charges involved a grow-op the 
Mounties found in a house owned by the former political aide but 
rented out to another individual.

Charges against Mr. Basi would later be withdrawn.

When the case against Mr. Basi gets to court, more information is 
likely to surface regarding some of the RCMP's actions that are at 
least highly questionable.

For instance, the lead investigator for the Mounties in the massive 
drug and money-laundering case was Corporal Andrew Cowan.

It is Cpl. Cowan who swore the search-warrant information leading to 
the raid on the legislature.

Mr. Basi's defence team plans to raise the fact Cpl. Cowan purchased 
a home from the Basi family in June of 1999. He dealt specifically 
with Dave Basi leading up to and after the sale. However, in the 
immediate months that followed the sale, according to Mr. Basi, Cpl. 
Cowan took issue with several problems he found at the home.

Discussions between Cpl. Cowan and Mr. Basi over those issues became 
quite acrimonious, again according to Mr. Basi. In the end, however, 
the Basis refused to financially remedy Cpl. Cowan to fix the problems.

(Contacted Wednesday, Cpl. Cowan said that was not his recollection 
of events, but if someone "can present evidence to the contrary I'd 
be prepared to look at it.")

It gets stranger.

Beginning in the spring of 2004, Mr. Basi, desperate for some source 
of income, began applying for jobs at companies in the Victoria area. 
One of them was a consulting firm. Mr. Basi knew its owner.

Months later, however, the owner of the business was called upon at 
his home by Cpl. Cowan and another RCMP officer. According to the 
owner, who was later interviewed by the officers at RCMP headquarters 
in Victoria, Cpl. Cowan made it clear to him it would be a mistake to 
continue having a working relationship with Mr. Basi. Mr. Basi's 
relationship with the firm ended soon after.

How did the RCMP even know that Mr. Basi was working for the firm? 
And why would the police discourage the company from having Mr. Basi 
on its payroll? What business was that of the RCMP?

That was never made clear.

The RCMP also visited the owner of a manufacturing company that was 
considering giving Mr. Basi work. According to the owner of the 
company, who was interviewed by The Globe and Mail, one of the 
officers told him it would be a mistake to hire Mr. Basi because he 
was a troublemaker who would likely "unionize his company."

The man never hired Mr. Basi.

(Cpl. Cowan said he could not comment on these allegations because 
the case is before the courts).

Michael Bolton, defence lawyer for Mr. Basi, confirmed yesterday that 
he intends to raise both of these matters at some point in the court 
proceedings.

There's no question these allegations raise troubling questions not 
only about motive and possible prejudice, but also about the 
investigative techniques used by the police.

As I said, the RCMP has a tremendous amount riding on this case. The 
last thing it wants is this case becoming an investigation into the 
actions of the force itself.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine