| WAR ON TERRORISM - LOOKING GLASS NEWS | |
|
Defence lawyer says use of mole shows there's "no terrorism in Canada" |
|
|
by Chinta Puxley CBC News Entered into the database on Monday, July 17th, 2006 @ 19:31:27 MST |
|
An RCMP informant's decision to go public with how he infiltrated a
group accused of plotting terror attacks on Canadian soil has infuriated the
lawyer of one of the accused, who says the group was set up. Mubin Shaikh's apparent involvement in a police operation that resulted
in 17 men and youth charged last month shows there is "no terrorism in
Canada," said lawyer Rocco Galati. The police didn't have a case against the accused, so they relied on
an informant to "set everything up," said Galati. "They have to fabricate it," Galati said, re-acting to Shaikh's claim
he befriended the group's alleged ringleader, Fahim Ahmad, last October. "I've seen some other disgusting so-called terrorist cases, but the stench
of this one is starting to exude even before we get into court." Shaikh, a prominent member of Toronto's Muslim community, identified himself
on Thursday to several media outlets as a paid police informant who was ordered
to place himself in the group. Shaikh said he was concerned about the impact of their plot on all Canadians
and on the country's Muslim community. The RCMP refused to comment Friday on Shaikh's statements or his role in the
investigation. The use of informants is commonplace in police investigations, as they are
often the only ones who can "penetrate the inner circle" of a suspected
criminal group, said law professor Alan Young. "If we were taking the threat of terrorism seriously since 9-11, what
we should have been doing is cultivating as many informer relationships as possible,"
said Young, who teaches law at both Osgoode Hall Law School and the University
of Toronto. "It's very effective." Still, Young said using informants can also hurt the prosecution during a trial
- if it's found the mole entrapped the accused. "The sins of the informant will be visited upon the police," he said.
The bail hearings for the accused are covered by a publication ban, which prevents
the media from reported the evidence presented. The ban does not extend to any criminal trial that may follow - trials at which
Shaikh is expected to testify. Shaikh's public statements make a mockery of that ban, added Galati. The 12 men and five youth were arrested on June 2 and charged with participating
in a terrorist group and other terrorist-related offences. Seven of the suspects face an additional charge of attempting to acquire three
times the amount of explosives responsible for the devastating Oklahoma City
bombing, and plotting to bomb several targets in Ontario. At a court appearance in June, a lawyer for one of the accused disclosed additional
details outside the court about the allegations, including that the group had
at one point contemplated storming the Parliament buildings in Ottawa and taking
MPs hostage. One of the accused allegedly talked about beheading Prime Minister Stephen
Harper. ___________________ Read from Looking Glass News Al-CIA-Duh
DVD Hits Toronto Streets The
Toronto terror plot and the Canadian establishment’s political agenda Harper,
Bush Share Roots in Controversial Philosophy Our
liberties and sovereignty under assault as Harper remakes Canada in Bush's image
Canada:
Harper’s Conservative cabinet—a roster of reaction Toronto
Terrorist Ringleader Has Military Connections Canada
Terror Plot Grows More Absurd Framing
the Toronto and London Patsies |
|