Slot machines at the River Rock Casino in Richmond, B.C. June 11, 2009.John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail
An officer with B.C.'s organized crime agency has been charged with theft in relation to an incident at the River Rock Casino and will be appearing in Richmond Provincial Court on May 19, 2011.
In a statement Tuesday, RCMP said police were dispatched, following a report of a theft, to the River Rock Casino in Richmond last December. It was alleged that a man took a ticket worth $400, that had been left behind by another patron in one of the machines, and cashed it out. The investigation identified the man as Constable Nick Sharma, member of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit. Cst. Sharma was off-duty at the time of the incident.
A report to Crown Counsel was sent for Crown's consideration of criminal charges and on April 11, they recommended a charge of Theft Under $5,000 against Cst. Sharma. He is scheduled to appear in Richmond Provincial Court on May 19, 2011.
In addition to this criminal investigation, Cst. Sharma is also facing an RCMP internal investigation. He has been assigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of both investigations.