Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 20/98) - The Yellowknife poker baron facing 23 sex and pornography charges was convicted of seven of the charges Friday.

Wing Lee (left) was found guilty of three charges of paying for sex with someone under the age of 18, three charges of possession of child pornography and one charge of making child pornography.

Lee has been in jail for the last 13 months and will remain there until sentencing Aug. 25.

Each charge of paying for sex with a person under the age of 18 carries a maximum sentence of five years. The same applies to the charges of possession of child pornography.

Maximum sentence for making child pornography is 10 years.

Before, during and after the verdict, Lee sported the same cheerful grin he has throughout the trial.

The only thing he said to Justice Vertes came when the judge was trying to co-ordinate sentencing with Lee's appeal of an earlier conviction on income tax evasion.

"Mr. Lee says his income tax appeal is ongoing, but he will never appeal this case at all," relayed Lee's Cantonese interpreter.

Before reading his verdict, Justice John Vertes told the courtroom, "We do not judge people on the basis of their moral values, we judge them on their actions and the rule of law."

Vertes noted the burden of proving Lee guilty beyond a reasonable doubt was hampered by "uncertain, unfocussed evidence too unreliable to support a conviction."

Ten girls testified against Lee. But under cross-examination few could supply details, such as arrangements for payment, critical for a conviction on many of the charges.

After the verdict, RCMP staff sergeant Dave Grundy, who supervised the investigation that led to the charges, said he had the highest respect for Justice Vertes.

"The justice system isn't perfect," added Grundy. "Certainly some of the victims are going to be disappointed in the verdict, and that's my main concern."

Vertes ended his verdict by pointing out what he said was the real lesson to be learned of the case.

"It seems to me the important question to ask is why is it these young people turned to drugs and alcohol? What are the problems in this community that compel young people to do such things?"