Bail hearing postponed for alleged Mafia members

Bail hearings have been put off until Wednesday for nearly two dozen people arrested in connection with Opration Colise, which police say broke up a major Montreal-based Mafia crime ring.

Quebec Judge Andr Perreault postponed the hearings in order to read a 75-page backgrounder on the investigation prepared by Crown prosecutors.

The international police investigation targeted 90 people, including several notorious figures alleged to be linked toMontreal's underworld.

Suspects scheduled for bail hearings Tuesday include Nicolo "Nick" Rizzuto, the 82-year old alleged Mafia kingpin, and Marie-Lyne Bliveau, a border services employee who worked at the Pierre Elliott Trudeau international airport.

Perreault said he would have preferred to go ahead with the hearings Tuesday, but felt it was important for him to become familiar with the case before hearing bail arguments.

The judge granted the defence lawyers' request for apublication ban on the background report, and all other evidence presented during the hearing. He also requested that prisoners be unshackled inside the courtroom in future hearings.

Nick Rizzuto's bail hearing is postponed until Friday, the court said.

Suspects who are granted bail will return to court in mid-January 2007. They face a range of charges including bookmaking, drug trafficking, gangsterism and conspiracy.