CROWN DROPS MARIJUANA CHARGES AGAINST EX-AIDE BASI

Proceedings Will Continue Against Onetime Minister's Assistant In
B.C. Rail Case

VANCOUVER -- Federal prosecutors have stayed two drug charges against
David Basi, the former ministerial aide at the centre of an
unprecedented police raid on the B.C. Legislature.

The Crown's decision came to light only yesterday, although the stay
of proceedings on charges against Mr. Basi of production of a
controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking
was entered in provincial court last Friday.

The charges were laid after the discovery of a marijuana grow
operation at a Vancouver Island residence rented out by Mr. Basi.

Along with another onetime ministerial aide, Robert Virk, Mr. Basi
also faces multiple counts of fraud and breach of trust, relating to
the alleged trading of confidential government documents on the sale
of the B.C. Rail-owned facility at Roberts Bank.

His lawyer, Michael Bolton, said the Crown agreed to stay the charges
after reviewing "some material not previously available" that had
been turned over by his client.

"Mr. Basi is obviously very relieved," Mr. Bolton said. "The offences
committed [at the grow-op house] were without his knowledge or involvement.

"Now that these charges have been stayed, Mr. Basi is able to
concentrate on fighting the political charges."

Mr. Basi was previously a top aide for then-finance minister Gary
Collins, while Mr. Virk was an assistant to Judith Reid,
transportation minister at the time.

Both were subsequently fired.

Federal justice spokeswoman Lyse Cantin declined to say why the drug
charges against Mr. Basi were stayed.

However, she said the Crown is continuing with charges against seven
other individuals who had been charged along with Mr. Basi, and those
cases are expected to proceed to court in December.

"As Mr. Basi's counsel, I can say we are just very grateful that the
Crown was open to taking a look at this case and were prepared to
reconsider the matter," Mr. Bolton said.

He said Mr. Basi had been "a little bit bugged" by the drug charges.
"He has no problem standing up and defending himself in the other
case, but he felt these drug allegations were below the belt. So we
are delighted they have now been dropped."

Mr. Basi and Mr. Virk are scheduled to go on trial in B.C. Supreme
Court on Nov. 28 in a case that has attracted wide political interest.

In addition to their jobs as ministerial aides, the two men were
strong organizers in the Indo-Canadian community for Prime Minister
Paul Martin's federal leadership campaign.

Key federal Liberal organizer Mark Marissen, who is married to former
B.C. education minister Christy Clark, also became embroiled in the
case, after police visited his office searching for documents.

Mr. Marissen was not under investigation and co-operated with police.

Police raided the legislative offices of Mr. Basi and Mr. Virk
shortly before Christmas, 2003, hauling off cartons of files and documents.

Search warrants that would reveal more details of the case have been
kept sealed by the courts, despite persistent attempts by media
lawyers to have them released.