HEROIN TRIAL GOES BUST

Heroin-trafficking charges against a city man were dropped yesterday, a day
after the Crown's star witness revealed he was paid $275,000 to be an RCMP
mole.

Crown prosecutor Bob Sigurdson stayed charges against Minh Tri Truong,
citing problems with disclosure to the defence.

Sigurdson would not elaborate on what the disclosure problem was.

He declined to comment on a suggestion from Justice Bonnie Rawlins the
Crown's difficulty related to revealing information which could jeopardize
other ongoing cases.

"I can't tell you," Sigurdson said when the question was raised by Rawlins.

Truong, 47, had been charged in connection with a Nov. 15, 1999, heroin
purchase by police agent Cau Tien and an undercover cop.

Tien and Const. Terry Richardson bought two ounces of the drug for $7,000
at a meeting at Smuggler's Inn attended by Truong and others.

Tien testified Tuesday the buy was part of an operation in which he was
paid $275,000 to help RCMP nab drug dealers in Calgary and Edmonton.

Tien, who has a prior conviction for cocaine trafficking, also had new
charges against him dropped for aiding the police.

In evidence yesterday, Const. John Tereposky of the RCMP's
witness-protection program, testified Tien's payments weren't contingent on
getting convictions.