Judge grants bail to one of four accused in London, Ont., explosives case

One of four people accused of possessing explosives and manufacturing firearms in London, Ont., has been granted bail.

Zekun Wang, who also goes by Alex, appeared at the London courthouse on Wednesday, where Justice of the Peace Kristine Diaz announced her decision following a lengthy bail hearing that took place last week.

“You saw it in there. [Wang] was emotional when her worship said he would be released. I think he’s excited to get home and he’s excited to move the case forward,” defence lawyer Nick Cake said. 

Evidence presented at the hearing, and the reasons for granting Wang bail, are subject to a publication ban.

Wang, alongside Jerry Tong, Fei (Frank) Han and Feiyang (Astrid) Ji, collectively face more than two dozen charges, including possession of explosives and manufacturing firearms. They were laid following a multi-day search of a residence at 212 Chesham Place, north of Western University. 

The probe began after police received a trespassing call from the university on Jan. 24, following the overnight entry of two men into the Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion, one of the school’s engineering buildings.

One person was arrested just outside the building. The investigation led police to a nearby home in the University Heights neighbourhood, where the other three were taken into custody.

Wang faces seven charges, including breaking and entering with intent, occupying a motor vehicle with a firearm, possessing an explosive substance, storing a restricted weapon in a careless manner, possessing a prohibited firearm, possessing a loaded firearm at the residence, and manufacturing a prohibited firearm.

Bail conditions for Wang

Co-accused Han was not granted bail during his hearing on Feb. 13 and remains in custody.

Tong and Ji have made several court appearances but dates for their bail hearings have not yet been scheduled.

Wang will remain in custody until he’s fitted with a GPS monitor, which is one of the conditions of his release. He is ordered to remain under 24-hour house arrest with constant supervision from two sureties who each posted $200,000.

Other conditions include no access to the internet or a cell phone, unless communicating with his lawyer, and no access to weapons. He is also to surrender his passport.

Wang is also barred from London unless scheduled to appear in court, and is not allowed to be on any Western University property.

In addition, Wang is not permitted to contact his three-co-accused, except in the presence of his lawyer, for the purposes of preparing a defence.

“For Mr. Wang, he probably wants to go home and sleep in a bed. For me, let’s get back to work. There’s disclosure to review, and I need to meet with my client to start planning out what our next steps are, and how we plan to attack these charges,” Cake said.

Wang’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 23.