Pubdate: Fri, 23 Mar 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: LAWYERS SLAM TOP INVESTIGATOR

One of the leading investigators into alleged Toronto drug squad 
corruption has come under fire for not interrogating a key witness 
about her shady past.

Defence lawyers for two of five former Central Field Command officers 
grilled retired RCMP inspector Peter Goulet Friday, implying he 
failed to ask former Montreal stripper Aida Fagundo enough tough questions.

"There can be miscarriages of justice, can't there?" said defence 
lawyer Harry Black, suggesting they can occur if police don't probe 
the background or motives of a witness.

Goulet, who once headed the Special Task Force investigating the 
officers, agreed it can happen.

In May 2009, Goulet interviewed the Cuban-born Canadian in Spain, 
where she now lives.

She alleges former drug squad officers beat her and robbed her of 
$10,000 in cash and earrings worth $20,000 after arresting her in 
1997 with five kilograms of cocaine.

John Schertzer, 54, Steven Correia, 45, Ned Maodus, 49, Raymond 
Pollard, 47, and Joseph Miched, 53, collectively face 29 charges, 
including attempt to obstruct justice, perjury, assault and extortion.

Goulet agreed Fagundo had been difficult to find, was reluctant to 
speak, and tried to place conditions on her cooperation, including 
complete immunity from prosecution in Canada. She was granted partial immunity.

Noting that Fagundo frequently travelled between Cuba and Spain, 
Black asked Goulet if he asked her how she financed that lifestyle.

"No," Goulet said.

"Did you ask her what she did for a living?" asked Black, lawyer for Correia.

Goulet said he had not.

Black asked Goulet if he questioned Fagundo about her 2004 Spanish 
arrest on prostitution-related charges. He said he hadn't.

Patrick Ducharme, lawyer for Maodus, asked Goulet if he questioned 
Fagundo about her ties to big-time drug dealers or her suspected role 
in the murder of Montreal trafficker Daniel Muir.

"I was not there to ask what happened prior to," Goulet said. "I was 
there to get a statement about incidents in this case."

The trial continues Monday.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart