BC Prosecution Service Media Statements for 2022
Last updated on January 26, 2023December 7, 2022
Appointment of Special Prosecutor
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that on October 13, 2022, Brock Martland KC was appointed Special Prosecutor in relation to an investigation of a sexual assault alleged to have occurred in Kelowna in May 2022. The suspect was alleged to be Mr. Colin Basran, then the sitting mayor of Kelowna.
November 25, 2022
BC Prosecution Service announces no charges in Grand Forks RCMP non-fatal shooting
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that no charges have been approved against a member of the Grand Forks RCMP involved in a non-fatal police shooting in connection with the arrest of a suspected impaired driver near Grand Forks on May 18, 2018.
November 22, 2022
BC Prosecution Service announces revised bail policy after directive by AG
Victoria – On November 16, 2022, the Attorney General issued a directive to the Assistant Deputy Attorney General (ADAG) of the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) to identify and implement amendments to its Bail – Adults (BAI 1) policy that could, to the full extent possible under the law, address the risk that repeat violent offenders pose to public safety in British Columbia.
November 3, 2022
BC Prosecution Service approves charges against Chilliwack RCMP officer
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that charges of discharging a firearm with intent, aggravated assault, and careless use of a firearm have been approved against Chilliwack RCMP Cst. Keven Biagioni in connection with the arrest of a suspect on January 12, 2021, in Chilliwack.
October 20, 2022
BC Prosecution Service approves charges against RCMP Dog Handler
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that a charge of assault causing bodily harm has been approved against an RCMP Dog handler assigned to the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Services. Cst. Simon Courtoreille has been charged in connection with the arrest of a suspect on July 12, 2020, in Abbotsford.
October 14, 2022
R v Aydin Coban
Victoria - Today the BC Supreme Court announced the sentencing of Aydin Coban on Indictment 78463 in New Westminster. The court ordered Mr. Coban to serve 13 years in custody. The court has declared that the sentence will run consecutively with the sentence he is currently serving in the Netherlands. In accordance with the terms of the temporary surrender agreement with authorities in the Netherlands it is anticipated that Mr. Coban will soon be returned to that jurisdiction to serve that sentence.
September 29, 2022
No charges approved following incident involving Salmon Arm & Sicamous RCMP Officers
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that no charges have been approved against two members of the RCMP who were involved in the arrest of a suspect with outstanding warrants on April 14, 2020, in Sicamous. Subject officer 1 (SO 1) was from the Sicamous RCMP detachment, and subject officer 2 (SO 2) was from the Salmon Arm RCMP detachment. The suspect suffered serious injuries during the arrest.
September 22, 2022
BC Prosecution Service approves charges against Abbotsford police officer
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that a charge of assault has been approved against Abbotsford police officer Christopher Conway in connection with an in custody incident that occurred on November 21, 2021, in Abbotsford BC.
September 20, 2022
BCPS releases the 2021/22 Annual Report
Victoria – Today, the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) released its 2021/22 Annual Report.
September 8, 2022
ADAG responds to recent public criticisms of the criminal justice system
Victoria – Today, the BCPS released a statement from Peter Juk KC, responding to recent public criticisms of the criminal justice system.
September 1, 2022
BC Prosecution Service approves charge against Nanaimo RCMP Office
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that a charge has been approved against an RCMP officer in connection with a driving incident that involved a police vehicle and a motorcycle on September 3, 2021 near Nanaimo. Cst. Elie Mohsen is a member of the Nanaimo RCMP detachment, and was working a shift with the Ladysmith RCMP at the time of the incident.
August 29, 2022
BC Prosecution Service approves charges against RCMP Officer
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that charges have been approved against Cst. Olavo Castro, an RCMP officer with BC Highway Patrol, in connection with an off-duty incident on July 1, 2022 in Williams Lake, BC.
August 11, 2022
BC Prosecution Service approves MVA charge against North District RCMP Office
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that a charge of driving without due care and attention has been approved against North District RCMP Cst. Jay Barban in connection with an on-duty motor vehicle incident alleged to have occurred on August 19, 2021, near Bear Lake.
June 30, 2022
BC Prosecution Service approves assault charge against Vancouver Police Officer
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that a charge of assault has been approved against Vancouver Police Cst. Riley Emerson Robert Wiens in connection with an on-duty incident involving an individual on March 20, 2021, in Vancouver.
June 29, 2022
BC Prosecution Service approves multiple charges against Surrey RCMP Officer
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that several charges of breach of trust and fraud have been approved against Surrey RCMP Cpl. Peter Leckie in connection with allegations of misconduct involving three individuals between January 2014 and October 2020 at or near Surrey.
June 23, 2022
BC Prosecution Service approves charges against Abbotsford Police Officer
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that charges of assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm have been approved against Abbotsford Police Cst. Shaun Nagel in connection with the arrest of a suspect on February 26, 2020, in West Vancouver.
June 7, 2022
BC Prosecution Service approves MVA charge against Langley RCMP Officer
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that a charge of driving without due care and attention has been approved against Langley RCMP Cpl. Steven Vandelft in connection with a motor vehicle incident alleged to have occurred on June 19, 2021 in Langley.
June 2, 2022
BC Prosecution Service approves charges against Langley RCMP Officer
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that charges of breach of trust and uttering threats have been approved against Langley RCMP Cst. Patrick Sean Malone in connection with their involvement in an incident that allegedly occurred on July 6, 2021, in Langley.
BC Prosecution Service approves charges against Surrey RCMP Officer
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that a charge of assault causing bodily harm has been approved against Surrey RCMP Cst. Jagjeet Bassan in connection with their involvement in an on-duty incident which allegedly occurred on June 4, 2021 in Surrey.
May 20, 2022
BC Prosecution Service announces additional policy changes aimed at increasing fairness and reducing overrepresentation of Indigenous persons in the criminal justice system
Victoria – Today the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced a third series of policy changes aimed at addressing overrepresentation of Indigenous persons in the BC criminal justice system. Other BCPS policies have also been updated as part of the ordinary policy review process, to reflect current developments in the law.
May 19, 2022
BC Prosecution Service approves charges against Vancouver Police Officer
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that a charge of assault has been approved against Vancouver police officer Simrit Roycombough in connection with their involvement with an on-duty incident that occurred on June 9, 2019, in Vancouver BC.
May 18, 2022
BC Prosecution Service approves charges against Transit Police Officer
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that a charge of dangerous driving causing bodily harm has been approved against South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service (Transit Police) officer Randeep Randhawa in connection with their involvement in a motor vehicle incident on November 4, 2020, in Surrey BC.
March 10, 2022
BC Prosecution Service approves charges against Kelowna RCMP Officer
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced that two charges have been approved against Kelowna RCMP Cst. Sean Eckland.
March 4, 2022
BC Prosecution Service response to public statements by Kelowna RCMP
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) responds to recent public statements made by the officer in charge of the Kelowna RCMP.
February 2, 2022
BC Prosecution Service approves charge against former Sidney RCMP officer
Victoria – The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced that a charge of assault has been approved against former RCMP Cst. Edward (Paul) Mittelsteadt following an on-duty altercation involving an in-custody accused on July 12, 2020, in Saanich.