Justice system breakdown example
This is a perfect example of why our justice system is fundamentally broken dealing with low-level crime:
Chen is charged with assault, forcible confinement, kidnapping and carrying a concealed weapon.
The charges stem from an incident on May 23 when shoplifter Anthony Bennett stole a box of money tree plants from Chen’s Lucky Moose Food Mart on Dundas St. W.
A transcript of Bennett’s Aug. 17 sentencing hearing shows him pleading guilty to stealing 10 plants from Chen’s shop.
He also pleaded guilty to stealing plants from another store.
Justice Maryka Omatsu reduced Bennett’s sentence to 30 days instead of the 90 days sought by the Crown,largely because he was agreeing to be a Crown witness against Chen.
Police say Chen and two store employees, one driving a vehicle, chased Bennett as he fled the store on foot. He was not stealing at the time.
They caught him, forced him into the vehicle, tied him up and assaulted him, police said.
Police said they found Bennett bound hand and foot.They charged Chen.
Apparently the person that robbed David Chen’s shop was a chronic offender with a lengthy criminal record.
Since the police clearly weren’t going to investigate a petty crime for hours, Chen took the initiative and got punished for taking a reasonable action.
Our system advantages offenders significantly with all sorts of abuses of procedure. In this case, the offender was able to get a reduced sentence in exchange for testifying against Chen. In addition, what made this a “crime” was the fact that the offender was not actively stealing at the time that Chen detained him. Chen should be commended, not charged. The police, prosecutors and politicians should be ashamed that it got to this point.
I hope this goes to a jury trial and delivers a not guilty verdict.