An RCMP officer who is alleged to have threatened tenants of residential properties acquired through fraud has dumped his lawyer and will get a new preliminary hearing date.
Const. Hoa Dong La, 44, was scheduled to have a preliminary hearing in September on 17 charges, including criminal harassment, extortion and fraud. However, there was a breakdown in communications with his previous lawyer and they have parted ways, said Calgary lawyer Ian McKay, who is now representing La.
McKay told Red Deer provincial court Judge Jim Mitchell on Monday that he is already booked for the September preliminary hearing dates and requested an adjournment. The five-day preliminary hearing has now been scheduled for between Nov. 19 and Nov. 26.
The defence requested that an out-of-town judge be used because of the likelihood that La, who was previously based at Innisfail RCMP detachment, would have appeared before local judges in his role as a police officer.
Mitchell requested that a judge from a judicial district north of Red Deer be used for the preliminary hearing.
La was based at the Immigrant and Passport Section in Calgary when he was charged in February 2009 after a public complaint in 2006 triggered an investigation into his activities.
It is alleged that residential properties and mortgages were acquired through “false representations” to banks. RCMP also allege that tenants at some properties were harassed.
The offences allegedly occurred in Innisfail, Camrose and Airdrie.
La has been charged with 10 counts of fraud over $10,000, four counts of criminal harassment, two counts of extortion, and perjury.
The preliminary hearing will determine if there’s enough evidence to warrant the accused stand trial in Red Deer’s Court of Queen’s Bench.
RCMP have completed their own investigation and suspended La with pay.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com