New evidence threatens to overturn the conviction of a former Innisfail Mountie tried earlier this year for abusing his tenants and defrauding mortgage companies.
Hoa Dong La, 47, was to have been sentenced today in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on charges of criminal harassment, extortion and mortgage fraud.
However, defense counsel Ian McKay told Justice David Gates that he has received new evidence, including about 2,000 documents from Veterans Affairs Canada along with information indicating that there may have been a video camera installed in the police vehicle La used during his service with the Innisfail detachment.
McKay asked Gates for time to review the new evidence, which he said may produce any one of a variety of outcomes. He said he may ask that the trial be reopened or declared a mistrial or he may simply use the evidence in his sentencing submission.
Gates agreed that the new information, including a psychiatric report of which La had been unaware, may have a significant impact on the issues.
He gave McKay until first thing in the morning of June 27 to review the evidence and decide what direction to take with it.
The date and nature of the next hearing are to be set at that time.
A resident of Airdrie, La has been on paid leave from his job with the immigration and passport section of the RCMP in Calgary.
He has recently resigned from the RCMP, effective June 8. He remains free under strict conditions.