A Strathroy-Caradoc fraud case involving over $1.1 million in taxpayer funds was dismissed after a judge ruled police violated the Charter rights of the accused, a 72-year-old Vancouver man.
The case, first reported by The London Free Press, stems from early 2021 when cybercriminals fraudulently diverted funds from Strathroy-Caradoc to a bogus bank account. According to Superior Court Justice Martha Cook’s recent 14-page ruling, the scheme began with a fraudulent email purportedly from Omega Contractors Inc., a longstanding municipal contractor. The email provided false banking details and requested payment to a new TD Canada Trust account. Between February 4th and March 26th, 2021, the municipality transferred more than $1.1 million to the account before the fraud was discovered in April, prompting a police investigation.
The probe identified Yiu Sun Wong, owner of a Vancouver bank account linked to the fraud, as a suspect. In November 2021, Strathroy-Caradoc police traveled to Vancouver to arrest Wong. According to the ruling, despite knowing Wong was elderly, had no criminal record, and posed no threat, officers detained him in his pajamas, transported him handcuffed to Ontario, and held him in custody for over five days in multiple facilities. Wong was charged with fraud over $5,000 and fraudulent concealment.
Wong’s lawyer, Anil Kapoor, sought a stay of proceedings, citing abuses of process and violations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In the spring of 2024, Justice Cook ruled in Wong’s favor, citing several breaches, including police failure to secure a proper warrant to enter Wong’s home and mishandling his detention and bail.
Justice Cook criticized the officers for exhibiting “a cavalier disregard” for Wong’s rights, noting they took a sightseeing day in Vancouver while Wong remained detained. She described their actions as a systemic failure, stating, “It is a startling illustration of what I find to be a systemic lack of appreciation of what is required of police officers” under the Criminal Code.
Cook stayed the charges, halting the prosecution indefinitely—a rare judicial decision. Local officials, including Mayor Colin Grantham, Police Chief Mark Campbell, and Police Services Board Chair John Brennan, were contacted for comment. Chief Campbell and the mayor both provided statements identical to the statements provided to the Free Press. Brennan did not respond to myFM’s request.
Police Chief Mark Campbell:
“The Strathroy-Caradoc Police Service prides itself on providing excellent policing services to enhance community safety and wellbeing. We are a community-oriented Service that works collaboratively with many partners including those in the justice sector such as Crown Attorneys and the Judiciary. We respect the roles we all play in investigating, prosecuting, and hearing cases including ensuring every person’s Charter rights are respected.
As police investigators, we advance complex cases utilizing opportunities to consult with the Crown’s office to execute investigative plans. The justice system also provides opportunities for legal arguments to be tested and judicial decisions to be written interpreting the law as it evolves over time. The Strathroy-Caradoc Police Service respects court decisions and will always seek to improve operational processes to align with the court’s directions.”
Strathroy-Caradoc Mayor Colin Grantham:
“Chief Campbell and the men and women of our police service have my support, and I am confident in their abilities.”
Written by: C. Soares