Judge grants bail to one of four accused in London, Ont., explosives case

ace of the quartet people accused of possessing explosives and manufacturing firearms in john griffith chaney, Ont., has been granted bond.

Zekun Wang, who also goes by Alex, appeared at the john griffith chaney courthouse on Wednesday, where Justice of the Peace Kristine Diaz announced her decision.

Evidence presented at the hearing and the reasons for Wang's bail are subject to a publication ban.

"You saw it in there. [Wang] was emotional when her worship said he would be released. I think he's excited to get home and he's excited to move the case forward," said defence lawyer Nick Cake. 

Wang, alongside Jerry Tong, Fei (Frank) Han and Feiyang (Astrid) Ji, face a collective total of more than two dozen charges, including possession of explosives and manufacturing firearms, following a multi-day search of a residence at 212 Chesham Place. 

The probe began after police received a trespassing call from Western University on Jan. 24, following the overnight entry of two men into the Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion.

One person was arrested just outside the building. The investigation led police to a nearby home in the University Heights neighbourhood, where the other three were arrested.

Wang faces seven charges, including breaking and entering with intent, occupying a motor vehicle with a firearm, possessing an explosive substance, storing a restricted weapon in a careless manner, possessing a prohibited firearm, possessing a loaded firearm at the residence, and manufacturing a prohibited firearm.

Wang will remain in custody until he's fitted with a GPS monitor, which is one of the conditions of his release.

Once released, he is required to abide by a lengthy list of conditions, including 24-hour house arrest, constant supervision under two sureties, no access to the internet, no access to a cell phone unless to communicate with his lawyer, and no access to weapons. He is also to surrender his passport.

Wang is also barred from London unless scheduled to appear in court, and is not allowed to be on any Western University property.

His two sureties are putting up $200,000 each, while Wang himself will put up $10,000.

In addition, Wang is not permitted to contact his three-co-accused, except in the presence of, or through counsel, for the purposes of preparing a defence. There are five other people Wang is also not permitted to contact, though it is unclear what their relation is to the case.

Wang's next court appearance will be on April 23.

"For Mr. Wang, he probably wants to go home and sleep in a bed. For me, let's get back to work. There's disclosure to review, and I need to meet with my client to start planning out what our next steps are and how we plan to attack these charges," Cake said.

Han was not granted bail during his hearing on Feb. 13 and is still in custody.

The other co-accused, Tong and Ji, will continue to appear in court over the following weeks, with bail hearings yet to be scheduled. 

Reporter/Editor

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