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. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek