WHEELS OF JUSTICE SO SLOW

As we approach the third-year anniversary of the police raid on the
legislature, it's time to step back and ask an important question:
What in the heck is happening with this case anyway?

Shortly after the raid occurred in late December 2003, the RCMP held
a news conference and grandly and seriously talked about organized
crime somehow coming perilously close to the legislature. There was
also talk of money laundering and drug trafficking.

But almost three years later, the case has dwindled into an alleged
affair of tawdry low-level lobbying. In any event, it now appears
that the trial of three former Liberal government political aides
won't even begin until next spring.

In the meantime, interesting tidbits about the case have emerged and
some important questions remain unanswered. Much of the mystery
surrounds the Crown's star witness, Erik Bornman.

A former lobbyist and federal Liberal activist, Bornman is almost the
entire case against the three provincial Liberal government workers
[Dave Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi].

According to the search warrants that have been unsealed, it is
Bornman who is making the allegations of bribery and corruption in
regard to the privatization of B.C. Rail.

In fact, without Bornman's assertions, it's hard to see much evidence
of wrongdoing in this affair.

But the treatment afforded Bornman by the RCMP and, possibly, the
special prosecutor, raises important questions.

Bornman has claimed he funneled money to Dave Basi through Aneal Basi
in exchange for information, documents and client referrals and that
he gave Dave Basi a "benefit" in violation of the Criminal Code - yet
he has not been charged with any crime.

As well, in the middle of the investigation and well after the search
warrants containing his allegations were sworn in front of a judge,
he was in law school and then became an articling student at a
prestigious law firm in Toronto.

He also continued to be registered as a government lobbyist in B.C.

But why didn't any official connected with this case contact the
Upper Canada Law Society and point out to it that someone about to be
called to the bar had claimed to the police that he tried to bribe
public officials?

More than two years after the raid, Bornman finally quit the law firm
after someone did indeed complain to the Upper Canada Law Society.

Speaking of special prosecutors, did you know that Berardino is
actually the third one on this case? Two other Vancouver lawyers
preceded him - Len Doust and Josiah Wood - but both resigned shortly
after getting the file because of possible conflict of interest problems.

The more I learn about this case - from leaks, from interviews of
those with some inside knowledge of it - the more I get the
impression that what was once painted to be a gigantic criminal
conspiracy is actually a lot less than that.

It wouldn't be the first time the police have overreached when they
enter the B.C. political scene.

As I wrote last week, they made that kind of error when dealing with
two B.C. premiers.

Whether they're making the same kind now may not be known for many
more months yet. The case drags on and on.

To put how long this is all taking in perspective, here's one last
tidbit - since he lost his job as a result of the legislature raid,
ex-Liberal aide Bob Virk and his wife have had two children.

The wheels of justice are indeed turning very, very slowly here.