News (Media Awareness Project) - CN BC: Hells Spy Wanted Out |
| Title: | CN BC: Hells Spy Wanted Out |
| Published On: | 2006-09-15 |
| Source: | Province, The (CN BC) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-08-18 00:19:10 |
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.
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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