RCMP MOLE ACCUSED OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY

Bouncer Recruited To Probe Hells Angels Was Violent While On Duty,
Police Allege

VANCOUVER -- Michael Plante earned about $1,000 a month in the summer
of 2003 as a part-time strip-club bouncer, small-time steroid
trafficker and as someone who, by his own admission, "dabbled" in the
sale of other drugs.

Two years later, he was given a lump-sum payment of $500,000 by the
RCMP for nine months of work as a police agent in an investigation
known as E-Pandora, probing alleged Hells Angels activity in
Vancouver and Kelowna.

For his efforts, Mr. Plante, 39, also received monthly tax-free
payments ranging from $2,000 to $14,000, a leased Harley and a used
Ford Mustang from the RCMP.

A further $500,000 payment awaits Mr. Plante after he testifies
against his former alleged crime associates in five B.C. Supreme
Court trials related to the E-Pandora investigation.

The first of those trials began this week with Mr. Plante required to
testify in a defence motion alleging that he was, in effect, a rogue
police agent, committing crimes and illegal acts while working for police.

Ronaldo Lising and Nima Ghavami are each charged with one count
related to trafficking methamphetamine. The defence is asking Mr.
Justice Victor Curtis, who is trying the case without a jury, to
dismiss the charges because of the conduct of Mr. Plante, who is
living under a new name.

The muscular witness was on bail in July of 2003 on an extortion
charge when he contacted the RCMP and offered his services. At the
time, the 5-foot-8 bouncer weighed 250 pounds and said he could
bench-press 400 pounds.

Mr. Plante has a minor criminal record and admitted that in the past
he has assaulted and abducted people when hired to collect money. He
pointed weapons as part of his collections "skill set" and once shot
and wounded a person.

An initial contract between police and Mr. Plante promised him
$30,000 for his services. A few months later, in June of 2004, a new
contract specified that his total payment was "not to exceed" $1-million.

"That is pretty good negotiating on your part," said Greg DelBigio,
the lawyer for Mr. Lising.

"That was all their [RCMP] doing. Not mine," said Mr. Plante, who
with his shaved head, tight black shirt and black pants, appeared
very much the image of a nightclub bouncer as he testified.

Mr. Plante conceded the money was an "incentive" to become a police
agent, but insisted he wanted to "correct some wrongs" in his past.

"Wrongs like attempting to murder somebody?" asked Mr. DelBigio.

"Moral wrongs," Mr. Plante replied.

Police and their agents are permitted to commit illegal acts in an
investigation, under new amendments to the Criminal Code enacted in
late 2001. The illegal acts must be "reasonable and proportional" to
the investigation. Violence is not permitted. This is one of the
first cases to test the limits of the illegal acts that might be allowed.

The questioning of Mr. Plante began with queries about violent acts
he is alleged to have committed while acting as a police agent.

Mr. Plante testified that he continued to use steroids while working
for the RCMP, had a number of "heated moments" with his police
handlers, regularly took part in nightclub fights and kicked a hole
in a wall once to relieve his stress.

"Instead of yoga, you kicked a hole in the wall," said Mr. DelBigio.

"Correct," said Mr. Plante. The witness denied violating his
agreement with police, although he admitted he did not know it was
improper to threaten people while working for the RCMP.