'Was all me': Key figure in Pearson airport gold heist testifies

Former Air Canada employee Parmpal Sidhu now on trial in one of Canada's biggest gold heists, gearing up for a key crown witness, Arsalan Chowdhury, the so-called ringleader who's already serving four years in prison for the theft. In court, he took full responsibility, saying the planning of the gold heist was all me. Later adding he heard of Sidhu but doesn't really know him. Case isn't over, so we're keeping an open mind. So far it's looking good, but I haven't heard anything bad against Mr. Bromfell. Police say 6,600 gold bars valued at over $20 million were stolen from Toronto Pearson Airport in 2023. A delivery truck got access to the warehouse using fraudulent shipping documents known as an airway bill and got away with the gold, almost none of which has been found. The Crown says Sidhu, one of two Air Canada employees allegedly involved, printed and modified that airway bill. Sidhu has pleaded not guilty to theft over $5,000 and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. Most of Chowdhury's testimony focused on text messages related to the heist. Text he repeatedly said he did not recall. It seems like at least what I see is someone that is very careful and does not want to go out of their way to be seen as giving evidence that is hurtful to Mr. Sidhu. Chowdhury also gave details about what he did with his portion of the take using a machine to melt down some of the stolen gold and trading it in at a jeweler. When the Crown asked how he did it, he said, it's pretty simple, ma'am, it's not brain surgery. Chowdhury says he went to Pakistan after the gold heist, where he says he was kidnapped, then released after he led the kidnappers to his gold heist money. His testimony continues Wednesday. Lisa Shin, CBC News, Toronto.