TRIALS ABOUT TO START FROM DRUG PROBE THAT LED TO LEGISLATURE RAID

Jeff Rud and Lindsay Kines, Times Colonist

A high-profile drug investigation that began in 2002, dubbed by police
as "Project Everywhichway," is finally winding its way to the trial
stage.

No convictions have resulted from the drug cases that eventually spun
into the dramatic police raid on the B.C. legislature two years ago.
But trials for six accused are scheduled for B.C. courtrooms during
the next several months.

Two others formerly accused as a result of the Everywhichway
investigation no longer face drug charges. Marijuana production and
possession for the purposes of trafficking charges against former B.C.
Finance Ministry aide Dave Basi were stayed last June. A drug charge
against Mandeep Sandhu, also of Victoria, has since been stayed as
well.

Lawyer Richard Peck of Vancouver said Wednesday that a charge of
conspiracy to traffic marijuana against Sandhu was stayed on Nov. 7,
presumably, Peck said, because of a lack of evidence against his client.

According to federal Justice Department spokeswoman Lyse Cantin,
charges against Sandhu were stayed after he "forfeited certain funds
that were seized from his residence.''

In all, eight people were charged in September 2004 as a result of
what police said was a major drug and organized crime investigation.
Six still face charges.

Jasmohan Bains of Victoria, B.C. resident John Scallon, Toronto's
Brahm Mikol and Blythe Vernon of Scarborough, Ont., each charged with
conspiracy to traffic, are scheduled to begin trial April 3 in
Victoria provincial court. The trial is slated for April 3 to 27 and
Sept. 11 to Nov. 23.

Scallon is also scheduled to go to trial in Vancouver along with B.C.
resident Michael Doyle from Feb. 28 to March 30 on conspiracy to
traffic charges.

The trial of Jaspal (Tony) Singh for conspiracy and possession for the
purpose of trafficking began with a voire dire last month in Surrey.
Proceedings resume for a day on Jan. 23 and again in March for three
weeks.

After searching the legislature on Dec. 28, 2003, police announced
that their raid was based partially on information related to a drug
and organized crime investigation.

"Organized crime has stretched into every corner of B.C. and onto most
city streets," RCMP Sgt. John Ward warned at the time. "It is not an
exaggeration to say that organized crime is a cancer eating away at
the social and moral fabric of British Columbia . . .''

According to a summary of drug-investigation search warrants released
by Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm in April 2004, RCMP were
investigating "bulk" trafficking in cocaine and marijuana.

Both Cantin and Ward said Wednesday the fact it has taken more than
two years for these drug cases to come to trial isn't a sign of
problems with the investigation. "It's not unusual at all,'' Cantin
said. "You've got our lawyers, their lawyers, those schedules, plus
the court schedule that you've got to line up.''

While Basi is no longer charged with drug offences, he still faces
corruption charges related to the bidding for B.C. Rail, as does his
brother-in-law Bob Virk, a former ministerial assistant in
Transportation. Cousin Aneal Basi, a former government communications
officer, faces money-laundering charges.

A trial date for those charges is expected to be set Friday in
Vancouver.