Allegations of immigration violations at Hastings Racecourse first surfaced while Liberals were in office, claims AG David Eby
Credit to Author: Stephanie Ip| Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2019 19:57:50 +0000
Allegations of potential corruption and immigration violations at the backstretch at Hastings Park Race Course first came to Attorney General David Eby while he was still in opposition, he said Tuesday.
Eby, in a media availability, said he brought it up with the attorney general then and was reassured nothing was wrong.
However, the whistle blower approached him again after he took office. A review showed grounds to bring in the Canadian Border Services Agency, which has been investigating the case since at least January resulting in the raid at Hastings Park and detention of up to 26 individuals suspected of working illegally in Canada.
B.C. Attorney General David Eby.
Eby said at least one Gaming Policy Enforcement Branch employee, who is now suspended with pay, is alleged to have been involved in corruption.
Speaking for the first time since the raid, Eby said the CBSA is leading both the immigration and criminal elements of the investigation and once that is complete, provincial officials will continue to investigate, including a review of all licenses issued by the branch to look for other potential problems.
Immigration hearings on Wednesday heard that many of the migrant workers had paid hundreds of dollars for their license and it appeared that some of the workers were carrying licenses issued by an enforcement branch employee.
Documents also detailed how the government official being investigated had issued registrations to the workers under job titles that did not require licenses and then later changed their job title to something else, while also substituting photographs on some registration cards.
More to come.