The Crown appealed an acquittal entered by the Court of Appeal regarding a conviction for conspiracy to possess counterfeit money.
The evidence against the accused was obtained via wiretaps authorized for a narcotics investigation.
Prior to renewing the authorization, police suspected the counterfeiting offence but did not specify it in the renewal.
The Supreme Court of Canada held that under section 178.16(3.1) of the Criminal Code, evidence of offences not specified in a lawfully obtained authorization is admissible, regardless of whether the interception of that evidence was anticipated or unanticipated.
The appeal was allowed and the conviction restored.