https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2...lls-reclame-4-millions-a-letat-quebecoisReleased from charges seven years after his arrest in Operation SharQc, a former Hells Angels contender is now claiming more than $ 4 million from the Quebec government.
John Coates is targeting the Department of Justice, the Attorney General of Quebec, former Chief Magistrate Madeleine Giauque - now director of the Bureau of Independent Investigations - and the informer Sylvain Boulanger in her lawsuit filed at the courthouse in Montreal. last week.
The plaintiff, who describes himself as a "businessman" residing in Estrie, is the 22nd accused of the police operation SharQc to sue the state in court, alleging having been the victim of "illegal detention", accusations "Unfounded" and "abusive" judicial proceedings.
$ 89M in total
The total amount claimed by these bikers is now $ 89 million.
Following his arrest in April 2009, Coates, 52, was charged with seven counts including conspiracy to murder, drug trafficking and gangsterism.
Seven years later, the one whom the police considered to be a relationship of the Hells Chapter of Sherbrooke was granted a full stay at the request of the Crown in May 2016. After refusing to plead guilty in exchange for a symbolic punishment.
"The plaintiff [declined] this offer, wishing to be acquitted to whitewash his name," write his lawyers in the suit that Le Journal consulted.
"Lost 10 months of his life"
Coates claims to have "lost 10 months of his life" behind bars because of allegations of "bad faith" by the Crown and "the stated purpose of annihilating the Hells Angels in Quebec".
He believes the whole thing is responsible for the stroke he suffered in 2012, the "forced" sale of his three apartment buildings and his divorce in 2017.
The plaintiff accuses ex-Hells Angels Boulanger, who received $ 2.9 million to become an informer in this operation, for "shaping" his "inaccurate testimony [...] out of thirst for revenge" against his former gang .
Coates mentions that he has already been a "prospect" - or aspiring member - of the Hells of the Ontario chapter of London. But the band had informed him in 2002 "that he would never get the status of a member of the organization" for reasons he did not specify in his request.
