U.S. judge orders Canadian politician detained

[egarrard]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002367882_arrest08m.html
A Canadian politician arrested on drug charges was ordered detained yesterday pending trial, though a federal judge said she'd reconsider once she sees the politician's medical records.

Ravinderjit Puar of Vancouver, B.C. — who also goes by her married name, Ravinderjit Puar Shergill — was arrested June 30 with three other people after a monthlong investigation that began with a tip from a confidential source, according to U.S. District Court records.

Charging papers said that during meetings in Kent and Auburn, Puar arranged the sale of 2,800 "blue dolphin" Ecstasy pills to an undercover agent for $9,800, and that she offered 15,000 more pills.

Puar, who sought the New Democratic Party's nomination to run for the Vancouver-Kensington seat for the British Columbia Legislature in May, is charged with conspiracy to distribute Ecstasy and distribution of Ecstasy.

In recorded conversations with an undercover agent, Puar was taped saying she didn't want any "heat" because she and her father are both politicians, according to charging papers.

Her father, Kalwant Singh Puar, attended yesterday's hearing but declined to comment to the press. He has been a high-profile supporter of the Canada's health minister, The Vancouver Sun reported yesterday.

Court documents allege that Ravinderjit Puar also said anyone who double-crossed her would be killed.

"This is a violent group," Assistant U.S. Attorney Karyn Johnson said. "The comments [Puar] made are evocative of the kind of violence this group is capable of."

Puar's lawyer, Bill Hines, called allegations that his client was involved in organized crime "outrageous." He said that while there was probable cause to believe she committed a drug crime, there was no evidence of actual violence, just a lot of "huffing and puffing."

Hines said Puar works at a cancer center and that a lump recently found in her breast may require urgent treatment. U.S. Magistrate Mary Alice Theiler agreed to reconsider the detention order after reviewing records from Puar's doctor.

One of Puar's co-defendants, Sarbjit Singh Virk, was ordered detained pending trial, while two others — Kamaljit Singh Ghag and Sarbjit Singh Sandhu — were released with conditions.Medical Ecstacy? :lmao

[wazman]

That's gonna cause trouble...

[bejohnson]

That's gonna cause trouble...

So. If she broke the law and they have the evidence that she did she should be treated no differently than any other criminal. If she is found guilty then she should be locked up for whatever the imposed sentence.

As far as the lump in her breast, there are doctors that treat inmates.

[CyberGuy]

So. If she broke the law and they have the evidence that she did she should be treated no differently than any other criminal. If she is found guilty then she should be locked up for whatever the imposed sentence.

As far as the lump in her breast, there are doctors that treat inmates.

I agree completely. Let the prison doctors do the surgery. Damn politicians think they are above the law and can get away with anything.

But I wonder if the same thing would have happened if they were American politicians that got caught there rather than Candian politicians. After all the Canadians don't have any strings they can pull down there...

As far as I care though, I hope they get exactly what's coming to them. All politicians are slime. :negative I'm glad they got caught in a place where their position means squat.

[Raedwulf]

It should be interesting to see what other Canucks in the forum have to say about this... if all is well with our morals, it should be 100% in favour of locking her up
It's not acceptable in our own country, what gave her the right to use her status as a politician to use drugs in another country
Heck, she isn't actually a politician, she doesn't hold a seat in the legislature, she's a regular citizen... she may call her self a politician, but she lost, which means she's just another leech

[pan]

Actually she is not a politition, her father is. She ran for office and lost.

Her family has long been linked to criminal activity, but not enough proof has been found until now to lay any charges. The current Canadian health ministar has also been under investigation for links to criminal organizations in the past when he was running in BC; being a former lawer he knows enough to stay out of jail.

I say throw the book at her.

(Her medical excuse against detention is probably bogus. They should have her inspected by a US doctor hired by the court before letting her out on bond. Otherwise she will sneak back to Canada and fight extradition for 7-10 years before she ever sees court; assuming she doesn't go into hiding.)

[Tivon]

Just hang her... we need to lay down the law around here. :)

[Orangepeel]

I'd say go ahead and detain her, and try her in the States. If they hold on to her long enough, maybe she won't want to be the only one caught holding the bag, and will try to take down a few other corrupt high profile people as well!

It's about time that corrupt politicians and their family members get caught with their pants down around their proverbial ankles. I would like to see how she tries to squirm out of this one :jawsdown!