POLICE FIND MARIJUANA GROWING IN HOUSE OWNED BY FIRED ASSISTANT

SHAWNIGAN LAKE -- Police dismantled a marijuana-growing operation
about two weeks ago in a Shawnigan Lake home owned by David Basi, the
former assistant to Finance Minister Gary Collins at the centre of
B.C.'s latest political scandal.

The drug raid, at 3260 Shawnigan Lake Road, happened over the
Christmas holidays. It was around the same time police raided Mr.
Basi's office in the legislature as part of a 20-month investigation
into organized crime, commercial crime and drugs.

Mr. Basi, fired after the raid on his office, purchased the rural
Shawnigan Lake property for $180,000 last March, but lives at another
address.

On Dec. 28, police seized 32 boxes of documents from the offices of
Basi and Robert Virk, who worked as an aide to Transportation Minister
Judith Reid.

Chris Considine, Mr. Basi's lawyer, said his client knew nothing about
the drug raid. Mr. Considine later confirmed it occurred by calling
police.

"The normal practice is for the police to contact the landlord if
there's been a raid," he said.

"It's a rental property but he has not been contacted by the police
whatsoever with respect to a raid on the rental property.

"He's instructed me to co-operate fully with police in this matter,"
Considine said.

Basi was the victim of unscrupulous tenants who have vacated the
property, he said.

"This is a common problem for many owners of rental properties in
B.C.," said the lawyer.

Indeed, in May 1996, police raided a grow-operation at a Surrey home
belonging to then attorney-general Ujjal Dosanjh. The tenant pleaded
guilty and paid a $1,200 fine.

Neighbours living Basi's Shawnigan Lake property said the house had
been vacant for some time.

"At one time it was rented out, but we hadn't seen anyone there for a
long time," Brown said.

Vera Ferguson, another neighbour, agreed.

"It's been vacant a couple of years."

Through the windows, the only furniture to be seen in the house was a
black reclining chair. There were also a few piles of two-by-fours and
a saw in the kitchen area.

On Friday, Considine also issued a statement from Basi in response to
a media story that police are investigating whether Basi was involved
in a drug-trafficking ring and a potential breach of trust regarding
the sale of B.C. Rail.

"David Basi is unable to comment on any specifics of the police
investigation, as the matter is before the courts, and is the subject
of a sealing order by the Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of British Columbia 1/8Patrick Dohm 3/8."

"However, Mr. Basi states that he has not done anything wrong and has
co-operated fully with the police investigation. He expects to be
completely exonerated at the conclusion of the process."

Considine also noted that it would be "inappropriate and unfair to
speculate on what the police may or may not be investigating" and
emphasized the importance of letting the process set out by Dohm
unfold in a proper manner.