Pubdate: Wed, 31 Aug 2005
Source: Coquitlam Now, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005Lower Mainland Publishing Group, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.thenownews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1340
Author: Angela MacKenzie, Staff Reporter

PORT MOODY TEACHER COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY IN TAIWAN

A Port Moody couple was waiting Tuesday to hear from their son,
Mathieu James Forand, who is facing a possible death penalty in Taiwan
after his arrest Friday on drug-trafficking charges.

According to media reports from Vancouver and Taiwan, the 28-year-old
English teacher was arrested by police during a drug bust that
allegedly involved quantities of cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana found
in Forand's Taipei apartment.

Drug crimes, under Taiwanese law, are subject to capital punishment,
and the prosecution is reportedly seeking the death penalty or 25
years in prison.

The Canadian government can do little more than ensure Forand has
competent legal representation and is not mistreated.

"He's never had a brush with the law before, except maybe for parking
tickets," Forand's father, Peter, told the Vancouver Sun. "It caught
us by surprise, and I can't imagine what kind of poor judgment got him
into this."

Forand's father said he and his wife have received assurances from
Foreign Affairs Canada that their son is physically OK. But his
parents are hoping their son will soon have access to a phone to talk
to them.

"Apparently, in the next day or so, maybe he'll have access to a
phone, but he is in jail," Peter Forand said. "They don't owe him any
favours."

Mathieu Forand had been teaching English to elementary school children
and conversation classes with university students while in Taiwan for
more than five years, his father said.

James Moore, the Conservative MP for Port Moody-Westwood-Port
Coquitlam, has offered to assist the Forands to ensure their son is
treated fairly.

Moore said the Port Moody couple understands their son may have gotten
into some trouble and that, if he did, he will be held
responsible.

But he added that it is important, particularly when there is a
profound language barrier and a difference in legal systems, that
Forand is treated fairly and is justly represented because he is
facing very serious charges.

"What really alarms me about this is, obviously, the whole talk about
the potential of the death penalty being on the table," Moore said.
"That's just something that Canada has a long history of intervening
in."

Moore said his office commonly fields calls from constituents asking
to deal with international issues.

"We've helped a number of constituents over the past few years," he
said. "Everything from people losing passports overseas to being in
jail in Mexico."
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MAP posted-by: Derek