Pubdate: Wed, 03 Oct 2007
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: CanWest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)

FORFEITED MONEY GOES TO GOOD CAUSES

VICTORIA - Crime does pay for some B.C. residents, who are getting 
more than $1 million in dirty money courtesy of a controversial law.

As a year closes on the Civil Forfeiture Act, Solicitor-General John 
Les announced Tuesday that about $1.1 million in proceeds of crime 
will be used to compensate victims and fund crime-prevention projects.

"The impact this law has had in just 12 months far exceeds 
government's initial expectations," Les said.

The B.C. Supreme Court has frozen another $4.5 million in cash, real 
estate and vehicles, pending the outcome of civil trials.

When the act was passed in 2006, the civil libertarians called the 
law an "outrageous end run around a person's Charter rights."

However, the provincial government said the act was created with the 
intent of suppressing crime by taking away the profit.

The B.C. Supreme Court can order the forfeiture of houses, cars, 
boats or other property if it has been acquired through crime, or has 
been used for crime.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman