Pubdate: Fri, 15 Sep 2006
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
id=ba5d0de3-cb41-4fbb-b143-56bb98be18ba
Copyright: 2006 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Keith Fraser, The Province
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?188 (Outlaw Bikers)

HELLS SPY WANTED OUT

Mole Was Beat Up When Officers Didn't Show

Police agent Michael Plante, hired to infiltrate the Hells Angels,  
says he wanted to quit after his RCMP handlers failed to show up at a  
nightclub and he was assaulted twice.

The broken appointment happened at Brandi's in Vancouver in October  
2004, seven months after Plante had agreed to help police target the  
east-end chapter of the motorcycle gang.

In a debriefing with police, one officer admitted to Plante that  
police had "f---ked up," and were supposed to have been present when  
he showed up at the club, according to transcripts read in court by a  
lawyer for one of two Angels on trial.

"They're admitting police responsibility," said Don Morrison, a  
lawyer for Nima Ghavami. The Angel is charged with trafficking in  
methamphetamines.

"I tried calling them for two days and they wouldn't answer," replied  
Plante.

"You were just about ready to quit?" asked Morrison.

"I was. I was ready to quit," said Plante.

In the debriefing, Plante asks police how much money he gets if he  
stops, but police urge him to continue in the operation until January  
2005, when he did quit.

Also in the debriefing, one officer tells Plante that "even a million  
dollars can't buy you a house in downtown Vancouver."

"By telling you there's going to be a substantial award, they're  
dangling dollars in front of you," said Morrison.

"Yes," replied Plante.

In later testimony, Plante said he wanted to quit even earlier than  
the Brandi's incident.

Plante also admitted to knocking Ghavami to the ground once.

The agent was paid $500,000 in August 2005 and promised another  
$500,000 for testifying in trials involving 18 men arrested in July  
2005 on drugs and weapons charges.

Morrison and Greg DelBigio, representing accused meth trafficker  
Ronaldo Lising, are applying to have the charges stayed on the  
grounds that Plante committed unauthorized crimes.

Federal prosecutor Martha Devlin is expected to question Plante  
today. Several high-ranking RCMP officers, including assistant  
commissioner Gary Bass, are expected to testify next week.
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