CanadaTrial begins for man accused in massive Pearson airport gold heist
Prosecutors allege an ex-Air Canada employee used a doctored waybill to help steal $22 million in gold and currency from a Toronto cargo facility.
Global Newsflix 2 min read
Parmpal Sidhu, a former Air Canada employee, pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of theft over $5,000 and conspiracy in a Brampton court. The trial concerns the 2023 theft of approximately $22 million in gold and currency from a Toronto Pearson International Airport cargo facility. Sidhu has chosen to have his case decided by a judge alone.
Crown Attorney Jelena Vlacic told the court that the heist occurred on April 17, 2023, at a warehouse on Britannia Road E. The stolen goods included 400 kilograms of 99.99 per cent pure gold and foreign currency. The theft took place within an hour of the shipment's arrival from Zurich, Switzerland.
Prosecutors allege the thieves used a fraudulent waybill to access the gold, which was stored in a refrigerated section meant for perishable seafood. Vlacic said the Crown intends to prove Sidhu printed the altered document using his employee profile the day before the theft.
Surveillance footage showed a masked driver in reflective gear loading the gold onto a truck with a forklift. The driver gave a fist pump to another man as he drove away, according to the Crown. Police identified the driver through fingerprints as Durante King-McLean, who is currently serving a 15-year sentence in Pennsylvania for weapons trafficking.
The Crown also named a second Air Canada employee, warehouse manager Simran Preet Panesar, as an alleged participant. Panesar fled to Dubai after being questioned by Peel Regional Police and remains at large. Indian authorities have reportedly detained Panesar in India due to suspicions regarding the laundering of stolen proceeds.
During the proceedings, Det. Const. Clayton Asano of Peel Regional Police testified about the investigation into the fraudulent waybill. Sidhu's lawyers questioned whether other people had access to his computer or if handwriting analysis had been performed on the document. Asano said handwriting analysis was considered but ruled out because there was not enough writing on the waybill.
Key facts
- The theft involved 400 kilograms of 99.99 per cent pure gold and foreign currency.
- A fraudulent seafood waybill was allegedly used to access the refrigerated cargo.
- One suspect, Simran Preet Panesar, is currently detained in India.
- The driver, Durante King-McLean, is serving a sentence in Pennsylvania.
Three perspectives
Neutral
The trial will determine Sidhu's level of involvement and whether he was responsible for the fraudulent documentation. Investigators are still working to locate the majority of the stolen gold.
Positive
The use of fingerprint evidence and international cooperation has helped identify key suspects in the heist.
Negative
Most of the $22 million in gold has not been recovered, and a primary suspect remains outside of Canada.
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