JURIST FACES PRISON FOR LAUNDERING DRUG CASH

Crime took place when he was lawyer

MONTREAL -- A Quebec Superior Court justice faces 10 years in prison after
being convicted Monday of laundering drug money.

Defense lawyers said they would appeal the verdict against Robert Flahiff,
who was charged with laundering $1.7 million between 1989 and 1991 while he
was still a practicing lawyer.

"We have a lot of basis," said lawyer Claude Girouard.

"There were a few motions that were presented during the trial that were
rejected and also we will study this judgment that was rendered this
morning."

Presentence arguments will be heard Feb. 8.

Flahiff, who faces possible disbarment, had tears in his eyes during the
hourlong delivery by Quebec Court Judge Serge Boisvert. His lawyers and
courthouse security guards tried to keep reporters away from him as he
walked from the courtroom to his chambers after the verdict.

Flahiff, 51, was found guilty of money-laundering, conspiracy, and
possession of goods worth more than $1,000 from drug trafficking. He was
acquitted on three other charges.

Girouard said he was unaware if the Crown would request jail time for the
jurist but he would oppose it.

Crown prosecutor Bruno Pateras was satisfied with the verdict.

"I think it establishes that the evidence of the Crown was overwhelming and.
. .that everyone is equal under the law."

Flahiff's trial was told how he began taking satchels of cash to a bank in
1989. Written testimony said he was allowed to enter a downtown Bank of
Montreal branch after business hours eight times between February and June
1989.

Each time, Flahiff had thousands of dollars in cash in a sports bag, a
former bank official testified.

She said Flahiff told her the money came from a client who had sold his
business and wanted to send the money elsewhere to avoid a problematic
partner.

The bills were turned into bank drafts that ended up in Swiss banks.

Flahiff, named to the bench in 1993, has been on paid sick leave since
January 1997. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His defense attorneys said the case against him rested solely on the
testimony of a witness who wasn't credible.

The defense acknowledged that Flahiff transferred money to Switzerland for
client Paul Larue, a cocaine dealer arrested in 1993, but denied that
Flahiff knew the funds were proceeds of crime.

They argued there was no evidence to corroborate Larue's claim that Flahiff
knew where the money came from.

Flahiff had wanted his trial stopped, arguing his basic rights had been
compromised by a deal reached between police and Larue.

But Flahiff's argument was turned down by Boisvert, who said the defense had
presented no proof that Larue's testimony would have been any different
without the deal.

Larue faced life imprisonment in the United States after he was caught in a
cocaine sting in 1993 in Burlington, Vt.

He got 14 years after agreeing to become a police informant against Flahiff.