British Columbia is ready to hear more on the money laundering topic that has been stirring the pot for more than a year now. The process would be impacted by Commissioner Austin Cullen’s latest decision, denying Fred Pinnock, the RCMP Unit Commander of the Integrated Illegal Gaming Enforcement Team standing status and more permissions. On the other hand, Jim Lightbody, on-leave CEO of British Columbia Lottery Corporation, received standing status during the two-year inquiry.
Last week Mr. Pinnock’s lawyer Paul Jaffes made it clear that his client is the only participant approved for the money-laundering inquiry that does not have his personal interest threatened by the potential findings of this inquiry. This statement came in support of his standing status application. The lawyer also made it clear that denying Mr. Pinnock procedural rights would harm the inquiry and impact public opinion on it.
Commissioner Culling Denies Mr. Pinnock Standing
Despite those arguments in support, Commissioner Culling ruled that the former Head the Integrated Illegal Gaming Enforcement Team will not have a special status during the inquiry linked to British Columbia casino locations that have allegedly been washing crime proceeds for years on end.
Regardless of this, Mr. Pinnock is going to offer his insights from his position as a witness during the inquiry down the road. Such a status means that he would not be able to cross-examine witnesses participating in the inquiry if that is necessary. In addition to that, he would not have the permission to seek documents revealing more on the subject, or make legal submissions to the inquiry.
It could be recalled that in the past, Mr. Pinnock has claimed that Canadians do not know the real magnitude of money laundering on a regional level. The misinformation relates to the local casino field, real estate market, and luxury vehicles one. Commissioner Cullen was also informed that Mr. Pinnock could share his personal opinion on household names in the British Columbia political scene.
Jim Lightbody Received Standing Status
Following weighing all pros and cons of a possible standing status for the former RCMP Unit Commander of the Integrated Illegal Gaming Enforcement, Commissioner Cullen issued his ruling. Moreover, he decided that Mr. Lightbody, the on-leave Chief Executive Officer of British Columbia Lottery Corporation, would receive the coveted standing status during the money-laundering inquiry.
Mr. Lightbody was granted the status as an individual participating in the inquiry since the Crown corporation is also part of it. In order to facilitate his role in the inquiry, Mr. Lightbody will have to utilize the full range of possibilities offered by the special status, as projections are that he would have to defend himself. July 2018 saw him become a whistleblower, claiming that the regional Liberal Party knew well about British Columbia’s casino venues and the way they facilitate money laundering by VIP patrons.
In the past, Mr. Lightbody argued that the British Columbia Lottery Corporation has any knowledge of money laundering taking place at local casinos. Allegations of purposefully ignoring suspicious transactions have also been made, something both the on-leave CEO and the Crown corporation would have to refer in their parallel testimonies.
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