HELLS ANGELS ANGRY AFTER PROVINCE KEEPS CLUBHOUSE

An angry Hells Angels spokesman accused the province of using the
motorcycle club as a political pawn after a B.C. Supreme Court judge
ruled yesterday that the Nanaimo Hells Angels clubhouse should
continue to be held by the province.

"With all this talk of gang violence, they've just said, 'OK, we're
going to take [the clubhouse].' There's a [expletive] election coming
up in May," said Fred Widdifield, a full-patch member of the Nanaimo chapter.

Widdifield said the case against the Hells Angels is built around
booze at the clubhouse. However, police affidavits from the time of
the October 2007 seizure of the Victoria Road clubhouse also detail
an assault and make frequent references to alleged criminal gang activity.

Lawyers for the Hells Angels had argued in court that the clubhouse,
seized by the Civil Forfeiture Office under proceeds of crime
legislation, should be returned.

However, Justice Barry Davies, upholding the interim seizure, decided
the clubhouse should continue to be held by the director of civil
forfeiture until the case contesting the forfeiture goes to trial in 2011.

"The right to own property and the freedom to enjoy it without state
interference is one of the hallmarks of a free and democratic society.

"On the other hand, no property owner has the right to use his, her
or its property for illegal purposes and cannot do so with impunity,"
Davies wrote in his judgment

Solicitor General John van Dongen said continuation of the order
means the Hells Angels can't sell the property and that they will
continue to be locked out of the building until the trial.

"The issue is whether or not the province is entitled to a court
order under the Civil Forfeiture Act to seize the property," he said.

If the province is successful in 2011, the property will likely be
sold and the money put into crime prevention or helping victims of
crime, van Dongen said.

Widdifield said he and other members of the club have had the house
since about 1980, and that it cost only about $40,000.

"What does that have to do with proceeds of crime? You can get that
with a bottle drive," said Widdifield, adding club activities
continue in other houses.

Since the Civil Forfeiture Act was introduced in 2005, the province
has seized $5.8 million in assets, cash, jewelry and vehicles, along
with a grow-op property, van Dongen said.