Pearson gold heist trial hears wiretaps of suspects turning on each other

Gold bars stolen from Pearson

6,600 bars

Peel police say 6,600 gold bars weighing more than 400 kilograms were stolen from an Air Canada cargo warehouse at Pearson on Apr 17, 2023, after arriving from Switzerland. Only about a kilogram of the gold has been recovered.

Parmpal Sidhu, an Air Canada employee at the time, has pleaded not guilty to theft over $5,000 and conspiracy, and is the first of nine men charged to face trial in Brampton, Ontario. Prosecutors allege he provided a doctored waybill that let another man pick up the shipment.

Arsalan Chaudhary, serving four years after pleading guilty, testified he told Sidhu the truck and driver were ready on the day of the heist and Sidhu replied “OK.” Under cross-examination, he said he does not know how much Sidhu knew of the plan.

“Everybody’s on their own. Everybody’s worried about themselves.”

— Caller identified in court as Parmpal Sidhu