#1: Massey Tunnel crash 'horrible and heartbreaking'
The family of a Richmond woman who was killed in a fatal collision outside the George Massey Tunnel in September 2020 received some closure at the end of June when Sundeep Singh Mann, 42, was sentenced to jail for two years less one day for dangerous driving.
He was put in handcuffs and taken away after receiving his sentence at Richmond Provincial Court.
Richmond Provincial Court Judge Diana Vandor described the facts of the case as "horrible and heartbreaking."
"This is not just another example of the destructive, injurious and deathly impact of dangerous driving on Canadian society. There were almost 50 case examples during the sentencing hearing," said Vandor.
"This is about the Tran family. And their grief is vivid and heart-wrenching."
Shortly after midnight on Sept. 2, 2020, Mann's white SUV crossed the centre line and collided with the vehicle driven by 61-year-old victim Ky Tran just outside the north end of the George Massey Tunnel. Tran was pronounced dead at the scene and her husband was sent to hospital with serious injuries.
#2: Fake bank drafts allegedly used to buy luxury cars
Multiple charges were laid against three suspects allegedly involved in a fraudulent bank draft scheme that targeted auto businesses and individuals in the Lower Mainland, resulting in more than $850,000 in losses.
The Richmond RCMP started investigating the case in January. The suspects now face 30 criminal charges, including fraud over $5,000, identity document offences and instructing the commission of an offence for a criminal organization.
This scheme allegedly involved the use of forged bank drafts and fake IDs to purchase high-end cars, including a BMW X3, a Porsche Cayenne, a Mercedes GLB, a Mercedes C63, a Mercedes C43, a Lexus RX350, an Audi A6 and several others, valued between $33,000 and $103,000, from private sellers on online sale platforms.
The total estimated loss to victims exceeds $850,000.
Richmond RCMP recovered 10 out of 16 vehicles, with eight returned to their rightful owners and two still subject to legal proceedings.
#3: Man allegedly scoops ice cream by hand
A man was filmed allegedly scooping ice cream with his hands at a popular Steveston ice cream store in October.
Ahmed Mohamed Hassan was identified as the man in the video who allegedly helped himself to ice cream behind the counter at Timothy's Frozen Yogurt around 1 p.m. on Oct. 16.
After being arrested on an unrelated matter, he was charged with one count of mischief, according to Richmond RCMP.
#4: Richmond trucking company in ALR fined $100,000
A Richmond trucking company was fined $100,000 and ordered by a provincial judge to cease operations and remove all its trucks and trailers as well as fill from its farm property.
Rideway Transport on No. 6 Road was issued dozens of tickets for non-compliance for operating a trucking company on the property that is located in the Agricultural Land Reserve.
When they didn’t pay the fines, the City of Richmond took them to court.
The company as well as its directors and two other transportation companies were named in the lawsuit.
Manjit Sandhu, on behalf of the companies and directors, pleaded guilty to three counts: breaching the city’s soil deposit bylaw, breaching the city’s business bylaw and breaching the city’s zoning bylaw.
According to court documents, fill was placed on the property in June 2022. A stop work order was posted on June 9, 2022, but more fill was brought to the property.
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