Dominican prosecutor seeking to hold Canadian aircrew in jail for up to 12 months: unions & More News Here

A prosecutor in the Dominican Republic is seeking to hold a Canadian aircrew in jail for up to 12 months after greater than 200 kg cocaine was discovered final month onboard an plane they had been working, the unions representing the employees say.

The Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA), Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), and Unifor launched a press release Monday calling on the Canadian authorities “to secure the safe return of five Canadians who have been arbitrarily imprisoned in the Dominican Republic after reporting a crime they were not involved in.”

The unions stated that for greater than 40 days, the Pivot Airlines crew members “have been arbitrarily detained, threatened, and prosecuted after discovering and reporting 200kg of narcotics to the police.”

The unions have launched a marketing campaign geared toward petitioning the Canadian authorities to safe the “immediate return” of the crew.

Unifor has recognized their member concerned in the incident as Bal Krishna Dubey, a part-time electrical mechanic at Pivot Airlines.

CUPE has recognized their members as Christina Carello and Alexander Rozov, each Pivot Airlines flight attendants.

In a letter beforehand despatched to Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, Pivot Airlines CEO Eric Edmondson stated that on April 5 whereas conducting a industrial constitution, the crew found suspected contraband in a upkeep compartment and “immediately reported” it.

“Despite following Transport Canada approved policies and international laws, the crew were immediately detained by local authorities,” the letter stated.

The plane was set to fly from Punta Cana to Toronto, Dominican officers stated.

In an April 6 press launch, the National Directorate for Drug Control stated 9 Canadians, one individual from India and one other from the Dominican Republic had been “being questioned to determine their possible involvement.”

The crew was detained however later launched on bail, which each the unions and airline stated the prosecutor is interesting.

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A report by the National Post late final month stated Dominican Republic prosecutors are alleging the airliner was a drug-smuggling entrance, regardless of providing little precise proof.

“It is entirely unacceptable that our members have been thrown in jail for doing their jobs, and dutifully reporting a crime,” Tim Perry, the president of ALPA Canada stated in Monday’s assertion.

“We are urging the Canadian government to take serious action and help bring our crew home.”

The unions stated the prosecutor is seeking to hold the people in jail for 12 months because the investigation goes on.

“Our member is a part-time worker, who had the misfortune of becoming entangled in a dangerous situation, after finding and reporting illegal drugs onboard,” Scott Doherty, the manager assistant to Unifor’s nationwide president, stated.

“Our union joins his family and friends in their concern for his safety. We need the federal government to intervene immediately.”

Wesley Lesosky, the president of CUPE’s airline division, stated “Canadian lives are at risk.”

“We are gravely concerned about our members and the entire crew, who have been held captive under tremendously challenging conditions,” Lesosky stated.

“We need our government to act.”

Appeal but to be heard: airline

In a press release despatched to Global News on Tuesday, Pivot Airlines stated the prosecutor’s attraction to the bail resolution has but to be heard.

“While we were able to secure the release of our crew, a condition of their release was they must remain in the Dominican Republic until the matter is resolved,” the assertion stated.

“We anticipate this process could take upwards of 12 months, all while our crew faces threats of reprisal by those who lost 200kg of narcotics when they reported the crime….

“If reporting narcotics crime in the Dominican Republic can result in up to a year of arbitrary detention, all Canadians should be extremely cautious travelling there.”

Feds offering consular help: Global Affairs

Global News contacted the federal authorities for a response to the state of affairs.

Jason Kung, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, stated the Canadian authorities’s “first priority is always the safety and security of its citizens.”

“Global Affairs Canada is aware of the incident involving Pivot Airlines in the Dominican Republic,” Kung stated.

“Canadian officials continue to monitor the situation closely, are engaging with local authorities, and providing consular assistance. Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed.”

Adrien Blanchard, a spokesperson for Joly, beforehand advised Global News that Parliamentary Secretary Maninder Sidhu travelled to the Dominican Republic and met with native authorities officers, the place he raised the incident involving Pivot Airlines.

— With information from Hannah Jackson

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