Ali Lalji, a former Vice Media employee convicted of conspiracy to import cocaine, spent a morning in jail during his appeal hearing after surrendering at the Toronto South Detention Centre. Lalji, who was out on bail since 2019, was implicated in a drug smuggling operation that led to the arrest of five mules carrying nearly 40 kilos of cocaine from Los Angeles to Sydney. His appeal focuses on the trial judge’s dismissal of testimonies, particularly from Yaroslav Pastukhov, which Lalji’s lawyer argues contained exculpatory evidence. The Crown contends Pastukhov’s claims of memory loss do not exonerate Lalji, as they lack substantial evidence against him.
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