Convicted drug dealer will be allowed to keep cash found in his home

A Charlottetown man will be allowed to keep $30,000 in cash found in his apartment during a drug raid in December.

Essam Haddad, 57, has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and a weapons charge. Judge John Douglas sentenced Haddad to 10 months in jail, 18 months probation, and fined him $500 for possessing illegal cigarettes.

But Haddad claimed in a Charlottetown courtroom Monday morning the cash found in the wall was his inheritance from his late father, as was the loaded .38-calibre revolver. He was challenging an application by the Crown to seize the money as proceeds of crime.

The judge ruled that he believed the money was an inheritance, and that Haddad could keep it.

"I have three children. That money's for them," Haddad testified in the forfeiture hearing.

Selling drugs to pay for his habit

Haddad told court he became addicted to Percocet tablets three years ago, and had begun selling them to pay for his own drugs.

He had about 90 Percocet tablets in his possession at the time of his arrest, in addition to 700 contraband cigarettes in his refrigerator and a small number of speed and ecstasy tablets.

The court heard he earned about $1 per pill and sold mostly to friends.

He once ran a store called Video Stars, which closed in 2005, leaving him in debt. The court heard he now lives alone, on welfare, and struggles with depression.

Brother supports story

One of Haddad's brothers testified in his defence at the forfeiture hearing.

The brother told the court Haddad's share of their late father's estate came to $30,000 once outstanding debts were paid.

The brother testified that money was paid to Haddad in cash at a local bank, and produced bank documents to verify the transaction.

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