Pubdate: Thu, 15 May 2008 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2008 Southam Inc. Contact: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Author: Shannon Kari, Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/grow+operations HUSBAND CONVICTED, WIFE ACQUITTED IN JANE-FINCH MARIJUANA GROW-OP CASE There was a mixed verdict in the trial of a Toronto couple accused of running a marijuana grow-op in their home in the Jane and Finch section of the city. Tam Ngoc Tran was convicted of marijuana production-related offences while his wife, Lien Thi Pham, was acquitted by Justice Kathleen Caldwell in a ruling announced late on Tuesday. The federal Public Prosecution Service is still going ahead with its attempts to seize the home, which the couple bought in 1997 for about $200,000, under the provisions of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The legislation permits the government to seize "offence-related property" if there is a conviction for certain offences, including marijuana production. The bulk value of the marijuana seized had an estimated value of $50,000 to $75,000. The defendants, who are both in their late 50s, had no prior criminal record, and there was no allegation of a link to organized crime. The grow-op, which had not been harvested, was allegedly in operation for a number of months. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin