A cocaine importer, for whom the Court of Appeal had ordered a new trial last November since the first was largely held in French against his will, will not have to face new procedures.
Posted at 12:00 a.m.
Soninder Dhingra, 49, who was arrested with 94 kg of cocaine and 15 kg of crystal meth in 2013, pleaded guilty to charges of importing narcotics in the past few days, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Except that taking into account the time spent in preventive detention, for which each day counts as a day and a half, there was only one day left to serve in Dhingra.
The latter and other individuals had been arrested following a major investigation by the Organized Crime Division of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) called Abri, which targeted drug importers linked to a member of the Montreal Mafia.
Dhingra had imported the 94 kg of cocaine with the help of a corrupt customs officer from the Lacolle post. While following him, the investigators also got their hands on 15 kg of crystal meth of great purity, a record seizure in Quebec.
PHOTO FILED IN COURT
Part of the 94 kg of cocaine seized by the police
New trial
After an initial trial, Dhingra was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
But he took his case to the Court of Appeal, arguing that his first trial, which had begun in English, had gradually and then completely taken place in French, and that his constitutional rights had therefore been violated.
The new trial was in preparation when negotiations began last week between the prosecution and the defence.
They agreed that Dhingra, who had been sentenced to 15 years the first time, should receive a 10-year sentence this time, taking into account several factors, including the fact that it will avoid the holding of a new trial.
The agreement was approved by the judge.
However, large sums of money seized from Dhingra are still being disputed in court.
To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.