Pubdate: Tue, 30 Aug 2005
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Ethan Baron, The Province

CANADA SAYS IT CAN DO LITTLE TO HELP TEACHER

B.C. Man Accused Of Drug Offences

A B.C. teacher facing the death penalty in Taiwan over drug charges
has received a visit from a Canadian official, but there's little
Canada can do to help him.

Mathieu Forand, 28, was arrested Friday night in a raid at his Taipei
apartment. Authorities allege he was found with cocaine, ecstacy and
marijuana.

Friends of Forand in Taiwan said he was allegedly found with one to
five kilograms of cocaine.

Drug crimes are subject to capital punishment in Taiwan, although the
nation is phasing out the death penalty.

The prosecution is reportedly seeking the death penalty or 25 years in
prison, while Forand's lawyer is arguing for a sentence of 10 to 15
years.

The Canadian government can help ensure Forand has competent legal
representation and is not ill-treated, but little more, said Dan
McTeague, parliamentary secretary for Canadians abroad.

"When an individual goes to another country, they are subject to . . .
the administration's laws," McTeague said. "We can't second-guess the
laws of another country. We can't impose any Canadian system on any
other countries just because someone has a Canadian passport."

Forand's father Peter said he and his wife, who live in Port Moody,
were pleased to hear from Foreign Affairs that their son is
"physically OK."

Forand is expected to have access to a phone soon, and his parents are
hoping they'll be able to talk with him. "I'm devastated," Peter said.
"I don't know what's true and what's not."

Forand apparently signed documents written in Chinese before he had a
lawyer, Peter said.

Friends said Forand, who was in Taiwan teaching English, confessed to
drug crimes so people in his apartment at the time of the raid
wouldn't be implicated.

James Moore, MP for Port Moody, said he's offered his assistance to
the Forands and will monitor the situation. "We want to make sure his
full rights are being respected," Moore said.
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MAP posted-by: Derek