LAWYER ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES

Sixth lawyer arrested for alleged drug trafficking in the last six months in
Toronto jails

TORONTO -- A defence lawyer was arrested after a Toronto jail guard
allegedly caught him trying to sell a prisoner crack cocaine.

The lawyer was at the Toronto Don Jail, meeting with a potential client who
had requested legal counsel. During the discussions he allegedly attempted
to pass the prisoner crack hidden inside a bale of raw tobacco -- an amount
of cocaine that could fetch about $300-$400 if sold inside the jail, said
Chris Croisier, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union representative at
the jail.

A guard observed the conversation from behind a one-way mirror, said
Croisier.

The lawyer is the sixth to be arrested for alleged drug trafficking in the
last six months in Toronto jails. In one of those cases, another lawyer is
charged with bringing $30,000 worth of drugs into the Don jail. ''That guy
is in quite a bit of trouble. That is a federal offence,'' Croisier said.

Lawyers, doctors, psychologists and clergy are not searched before entering
the jail, although they are are required to step through metal detectors and
have identification cards. They are allowed to meet face to face with
prisoners. All other visitors are separated by a glass window during
meetings.

Crosier said lawyers should be searched for drugs because increasing numbers
are abusing their ability to have contact with prisoners. The lawyers are
paid to clandestinely pass crack cocaine, usually hidden in tobacco, to
their clients, who sell the drugs inside the jail. When a lawyer gets a
reputation for drug trafficking, other prisoners request him as their
counsel, he said.

''Some of these guys have five or six clients in the jail,'' said Croisier.
''With the numbers that are coming in, it's starting to become alarming. We
search the inmates, but we may be missing some of it.'

''There is a lot of money to be made.''

He said inmates also sneak drugs into the jail in secret pockets sewn into
their clothes or in their body cavities.

Richard Zemla is charged with drug trafficking and was released after a bail
hearing yesterday. He is not listed on the 2002 Canadian Law List or in the
Law Society of Upper Canada's lawyers directory.