U.S. appealing bail conditions of B.C. lawyer.............
By PETER KENNEDY
Wednesday, September 25, 2002 – Print Edition, Page B5
VANCOUVER -- Former Vancouver real estate lawyer Martin Chambers is scheduled to appear in a Florida court on Monday after U.S. authorities launched an appeal against bail conditions that were imposed following his arrest in the Bermuda Short sting.
Mr. Chambers is one of five British Columbia men who were arrested in the United States last month following a joint RCMP-FBI undercover investigation in which a total of about 55 people have been arrested or charged.
Mr. Chambers, 62, is charged along with ***Jack Purdy, Kevan Garner, Ronald Horvat and Harold Joliffe*** with alleged money laundering, as well as with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
In order to secure bail, Mr. Chambers was ordered to come up with the $15,000 (U.S.) cash portion of a $100,000 corporate surety bond as well as a $250,000 personal surety bond.
But U.S. authorities are appealing that decision. "There is a hearing on Monday before the [U.S. District Court] judge," said Judy Orihuela, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Florida.
He remains in custody, the spokeswoman said.
Meanwhile, the FBI said ***Mr. Purdy***, a Vancouver real estate developer, remains in detention after the U.S. District Court ordered him to post $500,000 in cash in order to secure his freedom until his trial.
***Mr. Purdy*** would be liable to pay $5-million if he were to break the terms of his bail.
"He is required to stay within the Southern District of Florida if he does make bond," Ms. Orihuela said. |
