Ontario lawyer linked to alleged Ryan Wedding drug ring granted bail for $5M
CBC
A Brampton lawyer allegedly connected to fugitive Ryan Wedding was granted bail Tuesday morning by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Deepak Paradkar, 62, is accused of playing a role in Wedding’s international drug-trafficking operation, including counseling Wedding to kill a witness.
The alleged “cocaine lawyer” was arrested in November and is facing extradition to the U.S. where he could receive a life sentence if he is convicted of charges including conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to retaliate against a witness.
"Mr. Paradkar will be released on a $5,250,000 surety bail," the decision from Justice Peter Bawden reads.
Paradkar's wife and her cousin have been named sureties, according to the decision, meaning they will supervise the accused to ensure he complies with court orders.
The bail conditions will be determined later, the decision says.
Paradkar, whose law licence was suspended by the Law Society of Ontario in early December, has denied any wrongdoing.
Paradkhar argued for bail earlier this month on the condition that he would remain on 24/7 house arrest unless accompanied by his wife or another relative. He also said he would stay off electronic devices with the exception of his wife’s cellphone under her supervision.
A lawyer for the Department of Justice Canada recently told the court Paradkar’s life would be in danger if he is released on bail as he is a “liability” to Wedding’s network.
According to the decision, the Attorney General also argued that the evidence against Paradkar, which includes cooporating witnesses, text messages and phone calls, is "so overwhelming" that the accused may run away if released on bail.
"I do not agree," Justice Bawden said in the decision.
"In my view, an experienced defence lawyer would not characterize this as an overwhelming case for conviction," he said in the decision.
In the decision, Justice Bawden said appointing a surety reduces the risk of Paradkar reconnecting with Wedding's network.
"I cannot imagine any circumstance in which she would allow him to resume communication with an organization which presents such a danger to her family," he said in the decision.
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