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Surrey Grit backs drug trafficker


capricorn

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Surrey Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal has written to a U.S. District Court judge on official House of Commons stationery in support of convicted international drug trafficker Ranjit Singh Cheema, The Vancouver Sun has learned.

Cheema was sentenced in California this week to five years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to smuggle 200 kilograms of heroin from Pakistan to North America in 1998.

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Dhaliwal's letter, dated July 9, 2008 and addressed to Judge Stephen V. Wilson, says the Newton-North Delta MP had met Cheema at "community engagements" and that the gangster seemed to be fully rehabilitated after fighting extradition for 10 years.

"He has become an active member of the community, a father and a husband who set down strong roots in Lower Mainland Vancouver area," Dhaliwal said in the letter, a copy of which was obtained from Los Angeles court files. "Just having conversations while participating in public events like sports tournaments, I have no doubt that if he is given support and direction, he will be a strong active member of his community in the years to come."

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The Liberal MP says in the letter that he was approached by Malkiat Singh Cheema, the 40-year-old trafficker's dad, "to write a letter of recommendation for Mr. Ranjit Singh Cheema, who has pleaded guilty to drug-related crime."

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Cheema claimed in his own letter that he got caught up in the international drug conspiracy only because he was depressed and addicted to drugs after being critically wounded in a 1995 shooting at the Zodiac nightclub in Richmond.

"I started self-medicating and using cocaine. I started hanging out around with the wrong kind of people who were into the lifestyle," he said. "It was around this time that I got into doing a deal with the Pakistanis."

Cheema failed to mention that the person he was with when he was shot, associate Robbie Kandola, was later gunned down by a suspected member of Cheema's crew. He also neglected to say that he was a one-time associate of notorious gangster Bindy Johal, who was also later gunned down. And Cheema left out the fact that he was at a Vancouver wedding reception in 2000 when his bodyguard, Mike Brar, was gunned down in front of him. All the murders remain unsolved.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/st...46f0123&p=1

Not surprising a Liberal would go to bat for a self-confessed drug dealing, mafia-type given the Liberals' soft on crime, heavy on rehabilitation philosophy. After all, it's not Cheema's fault. Depression made him turn to drugs and crime.

"We always want the best man to win an election. Unfortunately, he never runs." Will Rogers

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200 kilograms of heroin isn't something you just 'get caught up in'.

This dude is a criminal through and through.

I find it rather abusive of his position as an MP of Canada to provide a recommendation for a member of his own ethnic community who's pleaded guilty to a crime as serious as this.

What is supposed to happen? He comes back to Canada and spends 6 months instead? For 200 kg of heroin????

"A man is no more entitled to an opinion for which he cannot account than he does for a pint of beer for which he cannot pay" - Anonymous

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I find it rather abusive of his position as an MP of Canada to provide a recommendation for a member of his own ethnic community who's pleaded guilty to a crime as serious as this.

You're quite right.

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said he was surprised by the letter and that an MP would never try to influence a Canadian judge in a case before the courts.

"It just raises question marks as to why he would have done it," Day said. "Certainly our practice in Canada is that MPs do not try to directly influence judges on cases. It is a pretty clear line of distinction between the judiciary and the legislative bodies."

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/we...a837408&p=2

I think Day has a valid point. If Dhaliwal had written a Canadian judge in favour of a convicted criminal would this be seen as appropriate conduct from an MP?

Dhaliwal told The Sun that he did not check with police or review any court files about Cheema's criminal history.

Wow. How about doing some homework before sticking your neck out.

Stephane Dion said that he has no problem with his MP approaching a US judge to go easy on Cheema.

Speaking on the campaign trail in Ontario, Liberal leader Stephane Dion accepted Dhaliwal's explanation.

"Mr. Dhaliwal asked for the rehabilitation of this man. He was supporting that this man should have a sentence but he was also asking for rehabilitation," Dion told reporters.

I can appreciate Dion made those comments on the fly but I wonder whether he really knew enough about this situation to give Dhaliwal his blessing.

edit: forgot the link

Edited by capricorn

"We always want the best man to win an election. Unfortunately, he never runs." Will Rogers

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Dhaliwal's mea culpa.

Federal Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal says he only met Ranjit Cheema a few times. Now he regrets not checking out Cheema's dark past before singing his praises.

http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/C...ishColumbiaHome

Sorry. Damage done.

"We always want the best man to win an election. Unfortunately, he never runs." Will Rogers

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Aside from the obvious fact Cheema is a died in the wool scumbag and gangster, does this mean we should have no problem with American politicians dealing directly with Canadian judges on behalf of any of their constituents charged in Canada?

"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC

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If Dhaliwal thinks an MP interfering in the American judicial process is honky dory it stands to reason he would accept that an American politician meddling our judicial process is fine. Dion backed Dhaliwal's actions so one has to conclude he approves of that type of intervention on both sides.

Edited by capricorn

"We always want the best man to win an election. Unfortunately, he never runs." Will Rogers

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Dhaliwal's mea culpa.

http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/C...ishColumbiaHome

Sorry. Damage done.

Pretty stupid to write a letter of recommendation of a guy he knows was a criminal without bothering to have the guy checked out first. He says "it is my judgment". Well yeah - so what does this say about your judgment?

"A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley

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Dumb, hypocritical, authoritarian right-wingers fail to see that alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceuticals are all DRUGS causing HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DEATHS PER YEAR.

So as a Liberal supporter you think that violent, gun totting heroin smugglers ought to be released onto the streets and not be punished severely. Have I got that right?

"A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley

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When you ban a drug, you CAUSE the hardcore criminalization of the industry. That's why Nabob, Labatts, Phizer and Du Maurier, even though their products cause 100X more deaths than all the other illicit drugs combined, don't have organized crime kingpins producing and distributing the products.

When they banned alcohol during the prohibition era, they effectively drove the entire industry underground, allowing brutal organized crime to takeover the industry. If they banned alcohol, tobacco or pharmaceuticals today, there would be a tremendous growth in organized crime turf wars over the control of these substances.

Apparently, stupid right-wingers PREFER having the gun toting criminal maniac controlling the production and distribution of heroin, opium, cocaine and marijuana.

Tobacco use has drastically decreased over the least 10-20 years, not by hardline criminalization, but by open, regulated adult-only access and education as to the negative health effects.

You twits.

Edited by Joesixpack5
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When you ban a drug, you CAUSE the hardcore criminalization of the industry. That's why Nabob, Labatts, Phizer and Du Maurier, even though their products cause 100X more deaths than all the other illicit drugs combined, don't have organized crime kingpins producing and distributing the products.

Organized crime produces their own cigarettes all of the time.

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What percentage of tobacco production and distribution is controlled by organized crime ? What percentage of alcohol production and distribution is controlled by organized crime ? What percentage of Cannabis/Cocaine production and distribution is controlled by organized crime ?

Oh, I get it..... you DON'T get it.

Well, according to the papers in my neck of the woods, about 33% of tobacco!

That's based on published estimates that 1 in 3 cigarettes smoked in Southern Ontario comes from illegal (native) channels.

"A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul."

-- George Bernard Shaw

"There is no point in being difficult when, with a little extra effort, you can be completely impossible."

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Dumb, hypocritical, authoritarian right-wingers fail to see that alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceuticals are all DRUGS causing HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DEATHS PER YEAR.

Your words, "dumb, hypicritcal, twits," would seem to describe Dion and his Liberal MP better than it does the people on this thread. Since you are advocating the legalization of all drugs, which party is running on that? Until you manage to change the Law, do the citizens have to follow the existing Laws?

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When you ban a drug, you CAUSE the hardcore criminalization of the industry.

Do you think heroin and crack be legal or not? Have the balls to answer a straight question.

"A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley

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Well, according to the papers in my neck of the woods, about 33% of tobacco!

That's based on published estimates that 1 in 3 cigarettes smoked in Southern Ontario comes from illegal (native) channels.

Of the ENTIRE tobacco industry in *North America*, only a VERY small % is controlled by organized crime. That's because it's legal and regulated.

Of the ENTIRE alcohol industry in North America, only a VERY small % (if at all) is controlled by organized crime. That's because it's legal and regulated.

OTOH, the ENTIRE cocaine or cannabis industry is driven underground (by insane Republican-style policy), and therefore virtually 100% of the production and distribution is controlled by ruthless, murderous, dishonest, secretive hardcore criminals.

Neo-Conservative drug policy, the war on drugs, is a mass ENABLER of organized crime. It hands the entire industry to them on a silver platter.

Edited by Joesixpack5
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Your words, "dumb, hypicritcal, twits," would seem to describe Dion and his Liberal MP better than it does the people on this thread. Since you are advocating the legalization of all drugs, which party is running on that? Until you manage to change the Law, do the citizens have to follow the existing Laws?

The Harper-Bush Neo-Cons implement the US war on drugs in their creation, Bill C-26. The NDP and Green party oppose it, and the Liberals waffle in Martinian fashion.

Edited by Joesixpack5
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Do you think heroin and crack be legal or not? Have the balls to answer a straight question.

Heroin should be under the distributive control of doctors and the medical establishment. Addicts should NOT be criminalized, but should be given safe access and treatment. This approach is less harmful overall than the hardline clampdown which wrecks families by busting them up and handing the entire heroin industry to organized crime on a silver platter.

Coca leaves should be legal, for adults ( they are relatively non-toxic ), but refined coca leaf should be confiscated and disposed of, without criminalization.

The prohibition of Coca leaves ENABLED organized crime to takeover the industry, and MOTIVATED them to refine it into cocaine. Then the 2nd wave of Prohibitionist-Fascist clampdown came along, enabling and facilitating the further refinement into crack.

The war on drugs doesn't work. It simply creates MORE problems than it solves. Open your friggen eyes and ears.

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The Harper-Bush Neo-Cons implement the US war on drugs in their creation, Bill C-26. The NDP and Green party oppose it, and the Liberals waffle in Martonian fashion.

As I recall the " War on Drugs " was declared in the eighties, not 28 months ago when Harper was elected. Your Liberals had several majorities recently, apparrently they didn't legalize your list when they had the chance.

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Heroin should be under the distributive control of doctors and the medical establishment. Addicts should NOT be criminalized, but should be given safe access and treatment. This approach is less harmful overall than the hardline clampdown which wrecks families by busting them up and handing the entire heroin industry to organized crime on a silver platter.

Coca leaves should be legal, for adults ( they are relatively non-toxic ), but refined coca leaf should be confiscated and disposed of, without criminalization.

The prohibition of Coca leaves ENABLED organized crime to takeover the industry, and MOTIVATED them to refine it into cocaine. Then the 2nd wave of Prohibitionist-Fascist clampdown came along, enabling and facilitating the further refinement into crack.

The war on drugs doesn't work. It simply creates MORE problems than it solves. Open your friggen eyes and ears.

Wow. That's so..... dumb.

Crack should be uh, "confiscated" without criminalization. Uhm, yeahhhhh. That'll work! LOL

"A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley

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Wow. That's so..... dumb.

Crack should be uh, "confiscated" without criminalization. Uhm, yeahhhhh. That'll work! LOL

If you fully legalize the production and distribution of the coca leaf, it will help South American farmers economically, and be the LEGAL avenue for those seeking cocaine stimulation, without the severe lethality and addictiveness of refined crack and cocaine. Have the organic COCA LEAF option open to adults, in a taxed, regulated and legal environment.

Oh yeah, I forgot, authoritarian rightards DON'T want relatively non-toxic leaves on the market, they instead prefer the war on drugs epic failure.

IDIOTS.

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As I recall the " War on Drugs " was declared in the eighties, not 28 months ago when Harper was elected. Your Liberals had several majorities recently, apparrently they didn't legalize your list when they had the chance.

My Liberals ? You lie. I'm a Green Party / NDP supporter.

The level of support for the epic war on drugs failure is STRONGEST among the authoritarian Republicans, and Neo-Conservatives. The Liberals are somewhat less harsh/authoritarian in their prohibitionist clampdown, which, as a matter of degree, is less harmful to society.

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If you fully legalize the production and distribution of the coca leaf, it will help South American farmers economically, and be the LEGAL avenue for those seeking cocaine stimulation, without the severe lethality and addictiveness of refined crack and cocaine. Have the organic COCA LEAF option open to adults, in a taxed, regulated and legal environment.

Right, and nobody would then turn that into crack or cocaine - even though it wouldn't be illegal to do so, or illegal to smuggle it or sell it or consume it.

You get out much?

"A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley

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My Liberals ? You lie. I'm a Green Party / NDP supporter.

The level of support for the epic war on drugs failure is STRONGEST among the authoritarian Republicans, and Neo-Conservatives. The Liberals are somewhat less harsh/authoritarian in their prohibitionist clampdown, which, as a matter of degree, is less harmful to society.

The problem is that things like cocaine are extremely extremely extremely terrible for your body. To be honest, I'm not really against the legalization of marijuana because it's a pretty inane drug but cocaine and heroin and any other family of hard drug is something only an idiot politician would support.

Regardless of whether marijuana should be legalized or not, the people in question in this thread are not marijuana crusaders or anything of the sort. They are the scum of the earth and that a Liberal MP would support it just goes to show you how entitled they feel they are in their positions and how far they'll go to pander to their ethnic communities.

"A man is no more entitled to an opinion for which he cannot account than he does for a pint of beer for which he cannot pay" - Anonymous

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The Liberals are somewhat less harsh/authoritarian in their prohibitionist clampdown, which, as a matter of degree, is less harmful to society.

Actually, Liberal wishy-washiness is the most dangerous thing of all because of the way it encourages a backlash of Conservative contempt and vindictiveness.

A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.

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