"Lawyers representing Rolan Sokolovski made an application ahead of his bail hearing next week to prohibit the publication of information that could identify his potential sureties. Sokolovski is one of several Canadians facing extradition to the United States as part of an FBI investigation into Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder allegedly at the helm of a violent international drug trafficking ring. U.S. authorities allege Sokolovski, who has dual Lithuanian-Canadian citizenship, laundered drug money for the criminal organization and acquired luxury items for Wedding."
"His lawyer, Scott Fenton, argued Friday that identifying his client's proposed sureties could expose them to "great dangers." Crown prosecutors, meanwhile, argued there is no evidence of safety threats toward sureties, and shrouding sureties in anonymity would deprive the public of crucial information in understanding the court's eventual decision regarding Sokolovki's release. Judge expected to rule on application Monday Ontario Superior Court Justice Peter Bawden is expected to rule on the application Monday as Sokolovski's bail hearing begins."
Rolan Sokolovski was arrested in Ontario in a sweep targeting alleged associates of fugitive Ryan Wedding. His lawyers applied to prohibit publication of information that could identify proposed bail sureties ahead of a bail hearing. Crown prosecutors argued there is no evidence those sureties face safety threats and that anonymity would deprive the public of information about the court's release decision. U.S. authorities allege Sokolovski laundered drug proceeds, acquired luxury items for Wedding, oversaw bookkeeping for the organization, and laundered money through his jewelry business. He faces U.S. extradition, sanctions from the U.S. Treasury, and an indictment referencing a bejewelled necklace linked to an alleged hitman.
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