A Canadian flight crew could be returned to a prison in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday amid an ongoing case involving packages of alleged cocaine found on board a plane he was flying, the airline said.
In a letter to Foreign Secretary Melanie Jolie, Pivot Airlines CEO Eric Edmundson called on the government to do more to intervene.
“We are calling on you to seek your immediate assistance to ensure the safe return of the Canadian summer crew that was illegally detained in the Dominican Republic,” Edmundson wrote.
“For more than 24 days, our crew has been threatened with their lives, inhuman treatment and arbitrary detention, for diligent crime reporting and prevention of a potential plane crash. We are deeply concerned for their safety and ask you to intervene so that they can return home to their families. “
The story continues under the ad
Read more: Canadian flight crew detained in the Dominican Republic released on bail: airline
Edmundson said that on April 5, while conducting a commercial charter, the crew discovered alleged smuggling in the maintenance department and “immediately reported” it.
“Although the policies and international laws approved by Transport Canada were followed, the crew was immediately detained by local authorities,” the letter said.
The plane was supposed to fly from Punta Cana to Toronto, Dominican officials said.
In a press release on April 6, the National Directorate of Drug Control said nine Canadians, one from India and another from the Dominican Republic, had been “questioned to determine their possible involvement.”
The flight crew was detained but later released on bail, which Edmundson said the prosecutor was appealing.
Popular stories
-
Kaylia Posey, children’s star of “Little Tiaras” and GIF icon, died at 16
-
In the ruined Ukrainian village, all the rest are blocked elderly residents
“In a shocking decision, the prosecutor is now appealing the court’s decision to provide bail for our crew, despite the fact that there is no evidence linking them to a crime,” the letter said.
“If he succeeds, it will mean that our entire crew will be taken back to dangerous Dominican places of detention. It is already well known that our crew reported the smuggling; returning them to prison along with alleged drug offenders will put them at serious risk of serious injury or worse. “
The story continues under the ad
The exact time of the appeal is not clear, but according to reports, this could happen on Tuesday.
Read more: Canadians were detained in the Dominican Republic after the discovery of packages of alleged cocaine on the plane
Jolie’s spokeswoman Adrien Blanchard told Global News that Parliamentary Secretary Maninder Sidhu had recently traveled to the Dominican Republic and met with local government officials.
“He raised the Pivot Airlines incident and said the Canadian government’s first priority has always been to ensure the safety and security of Canadians,” Blanchard said.
“To this end, Global Affairs Canada consular officers continue to work with local authorities and provide consular assistance.
Edmundson said the flight crew continued to receive death threats.
He said the airline had taken “all possible precautions” to ensure they were safe, including receiving about $ 100,000 in security, hiring security and moving to a new home.
“It has been an incredibly stressful time for the crew and their families in Canada, and we are concerned that there is no protection we can provide to fully ensure their safety in the Dominican Republic, in addition to the severe mental damage they are suffering. due to this ongoing incident, “the letter said.
The story continues under the ad
“We are incredibly grateful for the support provided by the Government of Canada so far and for the commitment of Parliamentary Secretary Sidhu directly to the Government of the Dominican Republic. Although we believe that these efforts have probably helped to improve the safety of their crew, they have unfortunately not been enough. “
Edmundson said it was “completely unacceptable” for Canadians to be “arbitrarily detained for conscientiously reporting criminal activity” and suggested the government consider issuing travel advice.
He said he wanted to see the crew returned to Canada, where they would remain “available” to the Dominican judiciary if necessary.
– With files from Isaac Callan and Hannah Jackson from Global News
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Add Comment