FREED MAN: RETURN MONEY

$685Gs Held By Gov't.

A Toronto man exonerated of importing $153-million in hashish in "Canada's
biggest drug importing case" walked out of court a free man three months
ago as a judge slammed prosecutors for "extreme tardiness" in disclosing
evidence. But Roman Paryniuk, 40, was back in court yesterday, trying to
retrieve more than $685,000 that police seized as proceeds of crime, which
the taxman is now claiming, says his lawyer Edward Sapiano.

"They couldn't prove their drug-dealing allegations, so now it appears
they're doing an end-run by apparently using tax law to confiscate that
money without a court hearing," said Sapiano, who asked Justice David Watt
to order the money returned to Paryniuk.

'HE WAS CLEARED'

Watt has promised to deliver an order this week.

"Roman is challenging it (the taxman's seizure). The department of justice
thought this would be forfeited as proceeds of crime upon conviction. But
he was cleared," Sapiano said. "The problem is Revenue Canada has taken his
assets. While he could object to it, he doesn't have the means to fight it
because the state has his money."

Justice department lawyer Fergus ODonnell said the tax matters and criminal
proceedings were separate and he only represents the department on the
criminal matters.

"There was $600,000 seized from someone who averaged $32,000 a year in
income from 1990 through 1997," ODonnell said.

"He's a better money manager than I am. As I said in court, 'Where's there
smoke, there's fire.' There's something for Revenue Canada to be looking at."