POLICE SUIT SETTLED

The Toronto Police Services Board has settled a lawsuit in which the owners
of a Chinatown restaurant alleged drug squad officers stole $600,000 in
goods after a raid three years ago.

Tuyen Vi Nguyen, his wife Tayet Ti, and their daughter Tania, claimed
$100,000 in booze, jewelry and cash was taken from them after a raid on the
Thy Restaurant and Karaoke on Grange Ave. Feb. 10, 1999.

They alleged $500,000 in jewelry, gems and precious metals was stolen two
days later from their bank safety deposit box. Lawyers for the services
board and 10 officers named as defendants acknowledge the suit has been
settled, but would not disclose an amount.

ADMISSION OF GUILT

Lawyers for the Nguyens would not comment. Police lawyers stress the
settlement does not include any admission of guilt, nor any acknowledgement
that the Nguyens' allegations were accurate.

Among those named in the suit were Staff-Sgt. John Schertzer, Sean
McGuiness and James Leslie -- three of eight Central Field Command (CFC)
drug officers who had counts of theft, fraud and forgery against them
stayed in February.

Ned Maodus, 39, a 13-year veteran, is awaiting trial on 11 criminal
charges, including assault causing bodily harm, sexual assault, utter
threats, point a firearm and four counts of possession of prohibited weapons.

The Nguyens allege Maodus signed a search warrant used to break open the
bank safety deposit. An RCMP-led internal affairs task force is probing the
disbanded CFC drug squad amid allegation of corruption.

THREE-MONTH PROBE

Search warrant documents retrieved by The Sun show the Thy Restaurant raid
was one of several that sprang out of a three-month probe. There is no
suggestion in the warrant of any wrongdoing by the Nguyens. None of the
allegations against the officers have been proven in court.