A police officer is being investigated for allegedly having “an unprofessional relationship” with a witness linked to case of the 2007 gangland slayings of the Surrey six, RCMP say.
The officer has been placed on administrative duties pending an internal investigation, the RCMP said in a news release.
Eileen Mohan's son, Christopher, was one of two innocent bystanders killed in a Surrey high rise in one of the deadliest gang murders in B.C. history. She said Tuesday she has been told by officials with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team about the situation.
Ms. Mohan said she continues to have faith in the police team, which has made a number of arrests in the case, but is appalled at the situation.
“He obviously hasn't seen his own child in a casket like I have,” she said referring to the officer under investigation.
The police statement said news media reports identifying the witness in question as being the former partner of Dennis Karbovanec, “are not accurate and may indirectly identify the wrong person.”
Mr. Karbovanec pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in the case.
He was sentenced to life with no chance of parole for 15 years.
The information provided by the unnamed witness has not been used by the police for any legal applications in the Surrey six, or any other investigation, the RCMP said. “To date there is no information that any criminal investigation has been compromised as a result of this issue.”
“Crown Counsel has not yet reviewed any statements provided by the witness,” said Sergeant Peter Thiessen, Lower Mainland District RCMP spokesperson, in the statement.
Jamie Bacon, Michael Le, Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston are facing charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the slayings in October, 2007, when four gang rivals and two passersby were killed in a penthouse suite of the Balmoral Towers.
Ed Schellenberg, a 55-year-old fireplace repairman servicing units in the complex, was killed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. So was 22-year-old Mr. Mohan, who lived across the hall from the apartment and was thought to have been heading out to play basketball when he was caught up in the massacre.
The other victims were Ryan Bartolomeo, 19, 26-year-old Michael Lal and his 21-year-old brother, Corey, as well as Edward Narong, 22.
Yesterday evening, B.C. Solicitor-General Kash Heed said he was unaware of the situation until the media reports.
“I have not had a chance to be briefed on this particular matter,” Mr. Heed told reporters as he attended an unrelated event at a downtown hotel.
He said he expects a thorough investigation into what he called a “very disturbing and inappropriate” possibility.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team investigates murders in Lower Mainland areas policed by the RCMP, and police departments in Abbotsford, New Westminster, and Port Moody.
