WITNESS IN CROOKED COP CASE IMPRISONED

A key witness in Toronto's largest cop corruption case has been
sentenced to four years in prison for trafficking heroin.

Kai-Sum "Simon" Yeung, whose 1999 heroin trafficking guilty plea was
overturned amid alleged Toronto Police drug squad wrongdoing, was
imprisoned Aug. 1.

Correctional Services Canada officials confirmed that Yeung is in
federal custody and his sentence will expire Aug. 1, 2010.

Yeung was charged this spring on OPP allegations that heroin and
Ecstacy pills were found at his home.

Yeung was in Collins Bay prison serving a 45-month sentence for heroin
trafficking in 2001 when Toronto police internal affairs detectives
told him they believed he had been "wrongfully convicted." Prosecutors
supported Yeung's appeal and he was promptly released after serving 27
months.

It is alleged in police affidavits filed at Yeung's appeal of the 1999
case that there were suspicions of "material non-disclosure" and
perjury by drug squad cops.

After his release, Yeung filed a $2.7-million civil lawsuit against
former drug squad officers Det.-Sgt. John Schertzer and Det.-Const.
Steve Correia.

Yeung was paid an out-of-court settlement.

Schertzer, Correia and former drug squad members Joseph Miched, Ray
Pollard, Ned Maodus and Rick Benoit have been committed to trial on
corruption-related charges, including assault, extortion, theft and
falsification of various records.

While Yeung admitted guilt and "would appear to be guilty," it states
in appeal documents, his conviction was "improper" because cops used a
state agent in the drug sting against him but did not disclose this
matter to the accused.

While police do not have to disclose a confidential informant's name,
they must disclose an "agent" who takes directions from police and
acts on police behalf.

After his prison release, Yeung filed a $2.7-million civil lawsuit
against former drug squad officers Det.-Sgt. John Schertzer and
Det.-Const. Steve Correia.

Police denied wrongdoing, but Yeung was paid an out-of-court
settlement.

The payout amount has not been publicly disclosed.

Yeung's case prompted the staying of 200 drug cases.

Schertzer, Correia and former drug squad members Joseph Miched, Ray
Pollard, Ned Maodus and Rick Benoit have been committed to trial on
various corruption-related charges, which include assault causing
bodily harm, extortion, theft and falsification of notes, police
records, court testimony and search warrant affidavits.

The police officers have asserted their innocence and none of the
allegations have been tested in court.