Vancouver police officer accused of defrauding 19 victims of $3M
Kal Dosanjh charged with theft, fraud and breach of trust offences dating back to 2017
Vancouver police say a high-profile officer who was arrested on Thursday allegedly defrauded at least 19 victims of a total of about $3 million.
uncertain
who → accuse → million
Kal Dosanjh, a 26-year veteran of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) and the CEO of the KidsPlay Youth Foundation, is facing four counts of fraud over $5,000, four counts of theft over $5,000 and one count of breach of trust dating back to 2017.
asserted
Dosanjh → face → 2017
At a Friday news conference, Vancouver police Chief Steve Rai said Dosanjh had been suspended, and that he had recommended to the Vancouver Police Board that the suspension be served without pay.
asserted
suspension → say → pay
He added that investigators believe there may be additional victims who have yet to speak to police.
uncertain
who → add → police
"These allegations are deeply troubling not only because of their seriousness, but because they have the potential to undermine the trust that our members work very hard, very hard to build and maintain with the public," Rai said.
asserted
Rai → have → public
"This officer had a profile in the community and internally, and officers are angry and disappointed.
asserted
officers → have → community
Dosanjh was arrested in Surrey in what police described as a "controlled" traffic stop.
asserted
police → arrest → stop
He has been released on conditions and relieved of his service weapon, police said.
asserted
police → release → weapon
Rai said police began a large-scale, covert investigation in December 2023 after multiple alleged victims came forward.
asserted
victims → say → December
He said that after consulting with the RCMP, it was "determined with collective judgment" that the VPD would head the investigation because it was best equipped with the expertise and resources to handle the file.
asserted
it → say → file
Property developments targeted
asserted
developments → target → ?
According to court documents, multiple charges relate to alleged fraud and theft from investors in the Azura, Queen's Park and Sahara development projects.
uncertain
charges → accord → projects
Sarabjit Singh Gill, who police described as Dosanjh's business partner, is listed as a co-defendant in those charges.
asserted
police → describe → charges
"It began over a series of years until such a point that victims then started to question the veracity of those things," said Supt. Mike Ritchie, who led the 2½ -year investigation.
asserted
who → begin → investigation
"We were not made aware internally until 2023."
asserted
We → make → 2023
Dosanjh also faces two charges alleging fraud and theft from the KidsPlay Youth Foundation.
asserted
Dosanjh → face → Foundation
Dosanjh founded the charity in 2015 with the stated aim of "keeping B.C. kids away from a life of crime."
asserted
Dosanjh → found → crime
Ritchie confirmed police had searched KidsPlay's offices.
asserted
police → confirm → offices
Ritchie said the province's Civil Forfeiture Office has been engaged in a separate but parallel process for "quite some time," and added that police weren't ruling out additional criminal charges.
asserted
police → say → charges
Dosanjh's arrest has already had ripple effects in Surrey's upcoming municipal election, where his wife was running for council.
asserted
wife → have → council
On Friday, the Conservative Party of Surrey announced that Sandy Dosanjh was no longer one of its council candidates.
asserted
Dosanjh → announce → candidates
Sandy Dosanjh is not named or accused in any of the charges or allegations her husband is facing.
asserted
husband → name → charges
He has, however, participated in her campaign as a speaker and supported her campaign on social media.
asserted
He → participate → media
Richmond City Coun. Kash Heed, a former West Vancouver police chief and B.C. solicitor general, said the move was not a surprise given the election was just weeks away.
asserted
election → say → ?
"When you have something of this nature, your significant other under such a cloud, it's going to be difficult to maintain the credibility and confidence of the public that are going to elect you to serve in office," he said.
asserted
he → have → office
"Certainly it will override anything that she is positively able to add as the individual running for municipal government."
asserted
she → override → government
In a statement on Thursday, Dosanjh's law firm Alliance Lawyers said it was "inappropriate to draw conclusions" based on the reported arrest of their client.
asserted
it → say → client
"Mr. Dosanjh has committed no crime and is innocent of any wrongdoing," the statement reads.
asserted
statement → commit → wrongdoing
"An arrest, or a report that an arrest has occurred, is not evidence of guilt, misconduct, or criminal responsibility."
asserted
arrest → occur → guilt
None of the charges have been tested in court.
asserted
None → test → court
Anyone who believes they may be a victim can contact police at 604-717-2601.
uncertain
they → believe → 2601
The Aporia
