Pubdate: Tue, 24 Oct 2006
Source: Maple Ridge Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc
Contact:  http://www.mrtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1372
Author: Keith Baldrey

SLOW PROGRESS IN RAID CASE

As we approach the third-year anniversary of the police raid on the 
legislature, it's time to step back and ask an important question: 
What in the heck is happening with this case anyways?

Shortly after the raid occurred in late 2003, the RCMP held a news 
conference and grandly talked about organized crime somehow coming 
perilously close to the legislature. There was also talk of money 
laundering and drug trafficking.

But almost three years later, the case has dwindled into an alleged 
affair of tawdry low-level lobbying.

In any event, it now appears that the trial of three former Liberal 
government political aides won't even begin until next spring. There 
is a tentative start date set for early December, but a seemingly 
endless argument over how much evidence the Crown must disclose to 
the defence has shackled the process.

Much of the mystery and intrigue surrounds the Crown's star witness, 
Erik Bornman. A former lobbyist and federal Liberal activist, Bornman 
is almost the entire case against the three provincial Liberal 
government workers (Dave Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi).

According to the search warrants that have been unsealed, it is 
Bornman who is making the allegations of bribery and corruption in 
regard to the privatization of B.C. Rail. In fact, without Bornman's 
assertions, it's hard to see much evidence of wrongdoing in this affair.

But the treatment afforded Bornman by the RCMP and, possibly, the 
special prosecutor, raises important questions.

Bornman has claimed he funneled money to Dave Basi through Aneal Basi 
in exchange for information, documents and client referrals and that 
he gave Dave Basi a "benefit" in violation of the Criminal Code - yet 
he has not been charged with any crime.

As well, in the middle of the investigation and well after the search 
warrants containing his allegations were sworn in front of a judge, 
he was in law school and then became an articling student at a 
prestigious law firm in Toronto. He also continued to be registered 
as a government lobbyist in B.C.

But why didn't any official connected with this case contact the 
Upper Canada Law Society and point out to it that someone about to be 
called to the bar had claimed to the police that he tried to bribe 
public officials? And why didn't anyone contact the official 
registrar of government lobbyists in B.C. and relay the information?

(In an ironic twist, Bornman was registered in a University of B.C. 
law class in September 2004 that had as a guest lecturer on one 
evening the special prosecutor of this case, Bill Berardino, but 
Berardino says he hasn't actually met Bornman).

More than two years after the raid, Bornman finally quit the law firm 
after someone did indeed complain to the Upper Canada Law Society.

Speaking of special prosecutors, did you know that Berardino is 
actually the third one on this case? Two other Vancouver lawyers 
preceded him - Len Doust and Josiah Wood - but both resigned shortly 
after getting the file because of possible conflict of interest 
problems. Their appointments were not made public at the time because 
the case was still hidden from the public.

Another interesting development: did you know the RCMP quietly 
visited federal Liberal party headquarters in B.C. on May 6, 2005, 
and seized electronic copies of the financial donor list? And in 
another odd twist, did you also know that the RCMP officer who is the 
main investigator in the case once bought a house from the Dave Basi family?

The more I learn about this case - from leaks, from interviews of 
those with some inside knowledge of it - the more I get the 
impression that what was once painted to be a gigantic criminal 
conspiracy is actually a lot less than that.

It wouldn't be the first time the police have overreached when they 
enter the B.C. political scene. As I wrote last week, they made that 
kind of error when dealing with two B.C. premiers.

Whether they're making the same kind now may not be known for many 
more months yet. The case drags on and on. To put how long this is 
all taking in perspective, here's one last tidbit - since he lost his 
job as a result of the legislature raid, ex-Liberal aide Bob Virk and 
his wife have had two children.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine