Pubdate: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2007 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Author: Mike McIntyre Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) POLICE AGENT'S HONESTY ON TRIAL Grilled About Long Criminal Record THE credibility of police agent Franco Atanasovic was put on trial Wednesday and resulted in some testy exchanges with the lawyer representing Hells Angel Ian Grant. Fireworks began immediately when Atanasovic was asked whether he was being honest when he picked up the Bible and swore an oath to tell the truth in court earlier this week. After Atanasovic insisted he was, defence lawyer Ian Garber questioned why anybody should believe a word he says. He noted Atanasovic made the same promise to police every time he gave a statement during a year-long undercover operation. Yet, Atanasovic admits stealing $5,000 in police money earmarked for a drug buy, making secret calls without the knowledge of his handlers and even pretending to speak on the phone with Hells Angel president Ernie Dew in order to facilitate a drug deal. Garber also grilled Atanasovic about his lengthy criminal record, taking him through the intimate detail of each offence. They include a McDonald's robbery in which he and two co-accused were armed with sawed-off weapons, wore nylons over their faces and stole $6,000 before locking employees in a cooler. Atanasovic was given a three-year sentence for that crime in the late 1980s. Atanasovic also got caught trying to sell cocaine to two undercover police officers in 1993 in which he bragged about being a major player in the local drug scene. Garber seemed to strike a nerve when he called Atanasovic a "career criminal". "Says you," Atanasovic shot back. Garber and Atanasovic bickered about the term for a few moments before Queen's Bench Justice John Scurfield intervened. "Try not to let emotions get in the way of answering the questions," he told Atanasovic. Grant is on trial for nine charges, including allegedly selling three kilograms of cocaine and crystal meth to Atanasovic through third parties. He is also accused of extorting a $60,000 drug-related debt through a series of meetings and phone calls caught on audio and video surveillance. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman