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