B.C. ACTIVIST JAILED IN U.S., ACCUSED OF SELLING ECSTASY

VANCOUVER -- A British Columbia woman active in federal and provincial
politics was denied bail yesterday in a U.S. court after being charged
with selling the drug ecstasy to an undercover agent.

Her case marks the second time in recent years that criminal charges
against unelected political activists cast a pall over B.C. politics.

Ravinderjit Kaur Shergill, who is also known as Ravinderjit Kaur Puar
and Amanareet Kaur Puar, was arrested on June 30 in Seattle after
allegedly handing over bags of ecstasy pills to a U.S. drug
enforcement undercover agent. The bags contained pink tablets weighing
a total of 2,215 grams, blue tablets weighing 378 grams and seven
additional tablets weighing 26 grams.

Ms. Shergill, 24, and three others -- Sarbjit Singh Virk, Sarbjit
Singh Sandhu and Kamaljit Singh Ghag -- were charged with distributing
ecstasy, a controlled substance in the United States.

Before her arrest, Ms. Shergill told the undercover agent that she was
a politician, her father was a politician and "she cannot have any
'heat' on her," U.S. Special Agent Joseph Parker stated in a 17-page
complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Political observers confirmed yesterday that Ms. Shergill and her
father Kalwant Singh Puar have been active in the federal Liberal
Party and provincial NDP.

Ms. Shergill was a federal Liberal at the time of the leadership race
in 2003 but voluntarily resigned her membership in January. She was a
Paul Martin delegate in the federal leadership campaign bid but did
not attend the convention.

She joined the provincial NDP in September, 2004, and ran
unsuccessfully for an NDP nomination in the recent provincial election.

Her father, who operates four tow trucks under contract for Buster's
Towing, is regarded as a valued supporter of federal Health Minister
Ujjal Dosanjh.

"The Minister came to know him recently. He was a supporter in the
2004 campaign, and the Minister appreciated his support," said Ken
Polk, Mr. Dosanjh's press aide.

Similar to his daughter, Mr. Puar also has ties to the provincial NDP.
He has introduced NDP Leader Carole James to members of the
Indo-Canadian community at party fundraising events, a political
activist, who asked to remain anonymous, said in an interview.

Although her political ties were confirmed, her claim of having police
protection in B.C. was explicitly denied.

Ms. Shergill told the undercover agent that "her family organization
has it very well with the cops and that the police in Vancouver, B.C.,
work for the organization, as her father is very well connected
politically," Mr. Parker told the court.

The agent quoted her as saying those who talk to the police in
Vancouver were killed.

Constable Howard Chow of the Vancouver Police Department said Ms.
Shergill's comments were "absurd."

The police do not know what she is talking about, he said. They would
investigate whatever information she provided, Constable Chow added.

After she was arrested, Ms. Shergill agreed to answer questions, court
was told. She admitted her involvement in prior drug deals and
provided information about others who she said trafficked drugs, Mr.
Parker said. She described her associate, Mr. Virk as a "kingpin" in a
large drug trafficking organization in Canada.

U.S. magistrate Mary Theiler said Ms. Shergill's statements could be
no more than bragging. But she did say them, the judge said before
denying bail to Ms. Shergill and Mr. Virk, who is also a Canadian.

Mr. Ghag and Mr. Sandhu, who are Americans, were released on
bail.

Eighteen months ago, a drug investigation led to a raid on the
provincial legislature and criminal charges against two ministerial
aides who allegedly traded confidential government documents for
employment opportunities, travel and meals.

The two aides -- Robert Virk and David Basi -- were backroom
organizers in the Indo-Canadian community for the provincial Liberal
Party and for Prime Minister Paul Martin's federal leadership campaign.

Drug charges against Mr. Basi were dropped earlier this year. But
charges of fraud and breach of trust against Mr. Basi and Mr. Virk are
scheduled to go to trial Nov. 28.