Inside man or patsy? Crown, defence pitch narratives at trial of man accused in heist
Was a then-Air Canada employee an inside man who helped carry out one of the biggest gold heists in Canadian history, or a scapegoat exploited by a longtime friend and left to shoulder the blame?
The trial of Parmpal Sidhu, accused of a major gold heist at Toronto's Pearson airport in April 2023, saw opposing narratives presented by prosecutors and defence lawyers. Prosecutors allege Sidhu knowingly participated in the heist by printing a fraudulent air waybill using his profile on shared computers. The defense argues Sidhu was likely a victim, taken advantage of by his longtime friend and colleague Simran Preet Panesar, who they claim orchestrated the crime.
Panagar left Canada and fled with his family after being questioned by police. A key witness, Arsalan Chaudhary, who pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to four years in prison, testified that he planned the heist with Panesar and took 30 percent of the gold bars. Chaudhary also claimed he communicated with Sidhu on the day of the theft, though he often couldn't remember specific details, attributing his memory lapses to post-traumatic stress disorder. The case is expected to be decided in late January 2027.
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