Pubdate: Wed, 27 Sep 2006 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Keith Fraser, The Province Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or officials RCMP PAID FOR DRUG CAR Police Also Put $5,000 On Mercedes For Hells Angel Associate The RCMP paid for one "drug car" and made a $5,000 down payment on a Mercedes convertible owned by a Hells Angels target, a police agent who infiltrated the club testified yesterday. Michael Plante told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Victor Curtis that the so-called "drug car" -- a Saturn --was specially fashioned with a "hollowed-out bottom and a hollowed-out trunk." The car was designed to carry hidden cocaine shipments from B.C. to Manitoba but was not used for that purpose, he told the judge. The Mounties also approved the down payment on the Mercedes, which was owned by Jonathan Bryce Jr., an associate of the East End chapter and the son of club president John Bryce. On Sept. 15, the younger Bryce pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking and will be sentenced Nov. 28. Plante said that on Jan. 13, 2005 -- just before he quit as a police agent under a contract to make up to $1 million to target the club -- he met Bryce to arrange to buy five kilograms of cocaine, at $25,000 per kilo. Four kilograms were to have been paid for and one was "on the cuff," meaning on credit, he said. Another Hells Angels target -- [Name redacted] -- was to reimburse Plante for payment of half of the drugs, said the agent. In other testimony, Plante said he suffered frequent "anxiety attacks" and had to see a doctor for medication due to the strains of leading a double life. "It happened all the time," he said. "It got worse as the investigation went on. Just all the stress, the pressure. Having to lie to everybody." Asked by prosecutor Martha Devlin whether the lies were made to his police handlers, Plante denied doing so and insisted he meant he told lies to his Hells Angels targets, including [Name redacted], [Name redacted] and [Name redacted]. Plante is testifying during an application by accused methamphetamine traffickers [Name redacted] and [Name redacted] to have their charges stayed due to unauthorized crimes such as assaults committed by Plante. [Name redacted]and [Name redacted] are charged on a separate indictment and have not yet gone to trial. The defence is expected to start calling several police witnesses, including the men who handled Plante, in the next few days. The courtroom continued to be under heavy security yesterday. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine