Gang Sweep Suspects Released With Compensation Over Long Court Delays
Posted July 3, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s a concept that could put a whole new spin on the term, ‘time is money’.
Nine suspects collared during the notorious raid on the Driftwood Crips last month were actually paid for doing time behind bars after a judge awarded them $2,000 each for what he called an ‘unacceptable breach of their fundamental rights.’ The original award of $9,000 was reduced on appeal.
Rikardo Robinson (pictured), who was a cargo agent at Pearson International Airport, was held for 16 days before being given a bail hearing.
Under the Criminal Code, you have to appear before a judge or justice of the peace within 24 hours after being arrested and have a bail hearing within three days.
It’s rare for a suspect to be released on bail and receive money, but the superior court justice said he wanted to send a message. “The judge was saying that if you put aside the resources to mount this investigation and affect all these arrests it’s very important that you also put aside at least some resources to figure out what you’re going to do with the people once the arrests happen,” said defence attorney Daniel Rechtshaffen. Many lawyers had previously complained about the severe backup caused by the massive raids and the arrests of dozens of people all at once.
Robinson, who has no criminal record, is accused of facilitating importation of drugs and prosecutors didn’t oppose his release on bail.
“Why couldn’t they have got organized to do that from the get-go?” Rechtshaffen wondered.
