HORNE MAY HAVE PREJUDICED COCAINE CASE: CARDIFF

Justice Minister Marian Horne "compromised" the independence of the
courts when she publicly praised the RCMP on a case that is still
before the courts, says New Democrat Steve Cardiff.

"It's really uncommon for a minister of Justice to comment publicly on
something that's a matter of criminal proceedings," said Cardiff.
"There's supposed to be a separation between the judiciary, the judges
and the legislative assembly."

Cardiff pointed to Horne's unexpected press release, in which she
publicly praised the RCMP in the aftermath of the biggest cocaine bust
in Yukon history, as the basis for his charges.

"On behalf of the Yukon government, I applaud the RCMP's efforts in
addressing substance abuse in our communities," Horne said in the
release, issued on February 21.

"Through their efforts over the weekend the RCMP has significantly
reduced the amount of drugs -- and the harm that they do -- in Yukon
communities."

Her praise for the Mounties came following news that the RCMP had
stopped a van on the Alaska Highway just south of Whitehorse and
seized nearly five kilograms of cocaine and 41 kilograms of marijuana.

It was the biggest drug bust in the territory's history: the five
bricks and eight bags of cocaine found in the truck -- discovered in
food produce boxes -- had a potential street value of up to $500,000.

And the marijuana discovered exceeds the Yukon RCMP's 2004 total pot
seizure by a staggering 34 kilograms.

Forty-six-year-old Jacob Kwong Sang Lee, who worked as the kitchen and
restaurant manager at the Gold Rush Inn, is charged with one count of
possessing marijuana with the purpose of trafficking, and one count of
possessing cocaine with the purpose of trafficking.

His passenger, 48-year-old Frank Yat Fan Tse of Vancouver, faces the
same charges.

Both appeared in territorial court on Wednesday.

Tse is scheduled to appear in court next on April 25; Lee is in court
next on May 2.

Horne made her comments about a case even though it has yet to go to
trial.

And that raises concerns, said Cardiff.

"There's supposed to be that independence there, and I think it
compromises the proceedings when the minister of Justice comments on
something like that," he said. "It prejudices the proceedings that
might come afterwards."

Horne's praise of the RCMP also came just a few weeks before the
judgment on a voir dire in territorial court by Judge Karen Ruddy.

Ruddy found the RCMP compromised the charter rights of six men accused
of running marijuana grow operations in Whitehorse.

Horne has refused to comment despite several requests for an
interview.