Pubdate: Wed, 29 Feb 2012
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Peter Small

TORONTO DRUG SQUAD TRIAL: TRAFFICKER DENIES ALWAYS ACCUSING
COPS

A large-scale cocaine dealer who claims Toronto drug squad officers
stole his "dope" and money denies he always accuses police of
misconduct whenever he is under investigation.

"Whenever you deal with police, when they investigate you, or when
they arrest you or they charge you, what happens is you make up
allegations against them, correct?" defence lawyer Peter Brauti
suggested Wednesday, while cross-examining Andy Ioakim, 55, at a
police corruption trial.

"You are wrong," the bushy-bearded witness replied.

Ioakim alleges drug squad officers stole cocaine, marijuana and more
than $100,000 from his Richmond Hill home 14 years ago and made death
threats against him, his wife and even his 8-year-old son.

The officers promised he would avoid jail if he handed over enough
drugs and money, Ioakim claimed.

Brauti suggested Ioakim is a "professional liar."

"Only when it comes to being arrested," Ioakim replied.

Brauti noted Ioakim once described himself as having been Toronto's
drug kingpin.

Ioakim denied saying this.

Brauti read out a statement Ioakim made in 2003 to detectives
investigating the drug squad.

"I was the kingpin back there," Ioakim had told police. "Everybody
listened to what I had to say. Everybody grew to where they were
because of me. Basically the drug dealers floating around this city
right now, I've made them."

Ioakim explained he was not claiming to dominate all the city's drug
dealers, just the 50 or more he dealt with.

He said for one summer, when Colombian dealers and the Hells Angels
were out of commission, he possibly was, briefly, the biggest operator
in the city.

"I was a bad guy. I'm not denying that," Ioakim admitted. "I paid the
price for it. The jig was up."

John Schertzer, 54; Joseph Miched, 53; Steven Correia, 44; Raymond
Pollard, 47; Ned Maodus, 48 - former Toronto Central Field Command
drug squad officers - face various charges, including attempting to
obstruct justice, perjury, assault and extortion.

None of the officers is charged with robbing Ioakim, but with
falsifying evidence related to his and other arrests.

Ioakim identified three of the officers who he alleges shook him down:
Miched, Correia and Pollard.

The trial continues.
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