TOP B.C. LIBERAL FUNDRAISER'S HOME SEARCHED

But Brother Of Deputy Premier Says He's Been Told He's Not A Suspect In
Drug, Organized Crime Investigation

VANCOUVER -- Police served a search warrant Sunday on the home office of
Bruce Clark -- the brother of B.C.'s deputy premier and the chief
fundraiser for the B.C. chapter of the federal Liberals -- as part of the
drug investigation that led to the raids at the legislature, the Vancouver
Sun has learned.

The confirmation of a search at Mr. Clark's West End Vancouver home
provides one more piece to the puzzle of who was targeted Sunday by police,
who are conducting a 20-month drug and organized crime investigation that
has involved high-ranking members of the provincial and federal Liberal
parties.

However the full picture of the police investigation -- and how it involves
illegal drugs, organized crime, police corruption and provincial and
federal Liberals -- remains unclear.

The RCMP and the provincial government are refusing to release more
information about the case. The federal Liberals maintain the probe doesn't
involve them, despite several of their key organizers' offices being
searched by police.

Mr. Clark, the brother of Deputy Premier Christy Clark, said he was not a
suspect in the investigation, and insisted police did not tell him what
they were looking for or what they took from his home Sunday.

Mr. Clark said he was "absolutely surprised" when police phoned him while
he was on vacation on the East Coast.

"We were away, out of town for Christmas holidays with family, and received
a message from the RCMP. They were interested in seeing if we had any
documents in my home office that might assist them in an investigation,"
Mr. Clark said yesterday in his first media interview since the raids.

"I contacted them and made arrangements to give them access to my home
office that day that I was away, and offered to co-operate in any way I could."

Mr. Clark returned home yesterday but said he doesn't know yet if police
seized anything from his home.

"The police were not able to tell me anything about the investigation, but
they did make it absolutely clear that I am not a suspect," he said.

Mr. Clark's holding company, Vovis Consulting Inc., oversees his various
investments, including residential properties he owns in New Westminster,
B.C. He said his business was not involved in the B.C. Rail privatization
deal, which has links to most of the other people or businesses that were
searched by police Sunday.

However, he is connected politically to many of the other search warrant
targets.

Police seized documents from the home office of Mr. Clark's brother-in-law,
Mark Marissen, who is married to the deputy premier and who is the prime
minister's most powerful non-elected ally in B.C.

Mounties visited the Vancouver home office of Erik Bornman, who sits on the
executive of the B.C. chapter of the federal Liberals with Mr. Clark. Mr.
Bornman was also the organizational chairman for Paul Martin's leadership
campaign, while Mr. Clark did the fundraising.

Also searched was the Victoria office of Pilothouse Public Affairs, where
Mr. Bornman is a director and works as a provincial government lobbyist.

And the most high-profile searches were the legislature offices of Finance
Minister Gary Collins' former ministerial assistant, David Basi, and
Transportation Minister Judith Reid's ministerial assistant Bob Virk. Both
are active members of the federal Liberal party.

Mr. Basi, whose house was also searched, was fired Monday, and Mr. Virk was
suspended with pay.

Police began an investigation that was linked to illegal drugs, organized
crime and police corruption. Evidence uncovered also led to a spinoff
investigation, which resulted in the seven search warrants issued Sunday.

At least one of the warrants executed at the legislature is part of the
drug case.

The Vancouver Sun and three other media organizations will argue in court
today that the search warrants should be made public.