Botched strip searches lead to charges being stayed against Saskatoon dentist in drug trafficking case
Saskatoon police 'did not comply' with Supreme Court strip search requirements: Crown
Prosecutors have stayed drug trafficking and money laundering charges against Saskatoon twin brothers — one a dentist — and a woman after Saskatoon police botched a strip search.
Prosecutors Carleen Ready and Stacey Cameron stayed all charges against Jae Sung (Jason) Lee, Jaeho (Jay) Lee and Jessica Tran in Court of King's Bench on Monday.
"The Crown is directing a stay on all counts against all three accused," said a statement read in court.
"Aspects of strip searches by elements of the Saskatoon Police Service in 2021 reflected in this investigation did not comply with the requirements established by the Supreme Court of Canada in R v. Golden."
That Supreme Court decision turned on the circumstances of a police search of a drug suspect in Toronto in 2001.
The court called on Parliament to set clear guidelines on strip searches, which it said should be conducted at police stations unless there's reason to believe the suspect is hiding a weapon.
In a news release on Jan. 6, 2023, police said officers initiated the investigation in October 2021 after learning of a large-scale cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking operation.
Officers raided four properties on Jan. 5, 2023. According to court documents, they included a house on Hamm Crescent, plus Jason Lee's home on 10th Street East and two separate properties on Kristjanson Road where Jay Lee and Jessica Tran live.
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