Pair caught in drug bust may be heading to trial
By Delon Shurtz on April 24, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com Two men charged last summer following a drug bust in the city, and who had hoped to avoid a trial, may be heading for trial, after all.During a brief hearing in March in Lethbridge provincial court, the judge was told defence had received an offer from the Crown to resolve the charges against Sumrath Singh Bindra of Leduc and Ajit Singh Kahlon of Edmonton. The matter was adjourned to allow time for lawyers to discuss the offer with their clients and continue discussions with the Crown.
Later that month, however, the accused instead made their elections for trial, and Thursday court was told the accused are scheduled to have a preliminary hearing in December.
Police officers with the priority crimes unit began a short-term investigation last summer into specific trafficking activity, and arrested two men following a targeted traffic stop Aug. 25, 2020. During a search of the vehicle, police found $7,600 in cash, as well as methamphetamine and cocaine worth more than $5,100.
Police seized the vehicle and later searched a local hotel where they found $500 in cash, considered the proceeds of crime.
Kahlon, 24, and Bindra, 18, were each charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000.
They were later released from custody by a justice of the peace. Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter 4
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