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Money laundering inquiry continues online May 25

The commission will work from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and be live streamed at CullenCommission.ca for public viewing
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Austin Cullen, who heads the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia | Photo: Graeme Wood

The Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia will recommence on May 25 but only in a digital format and not in the usual federal court setting on Georgia Street in Downtown Vancouver.

“Over the past several weeks, the commission team has run multiple mock hearings to test the process. The commission’s staff and lawyers are confident in their ability to effectively hold the upcoming block of hearings by videoconference” using Microsoft Teams, stated a news release.

Commissioner Austin Cullen will reside over 17 working days of witness testimony focused on an overview of money laundering and regulatory models. Cullen will hear from a number of academic experts as well as top civil servants tasked with money laundering files for B.C. and Canada. This is to give the commissioner a greater understanding of the issue at large before addressing what has occurred in B.C. Hearings this fall are expected to produce witnesses with direct knowledge of circumstances in B.C. An interim report is due November 15 and a final report is expected next May.

Starting May 25, the commission will work from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and be live streamed at CullenCommission.ca for public viewing. Reports, documents and exhibits from the hearings will likewise be posted online.

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Here are brief notes on the witnesses scheduled to give evidence at the May/June hearings:

• Professor Stephen Schneider from St. Mary's University, Halifax. Professor Schneider is a criminologist whose research has focused on areas of organized crime, financial crimes and money laundering. (May 25-27)

• Simon Lord, senior officer and money laundering expert, National Crime Agency (UK). Mr. Lord has 30 years of experience investigating serious and complex crime, with the last 15 years dedicated to understanding and addressing money laundering. (May 28-29)

• Oliver Bullough, journalist and author of Moneyland: The Inside Story of the Crooks and Kleptocrats Who Rule the World. (June 1-2)

• Emeritus Professor William Gilmore, School of Law, University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Professor Gilmore has an extensive background examining international anti-money laundering measures. (June 3-4)

• Professor Michael Levi, Cardiff University, has a distinguished track record of research and advisory work on topics including money laundering and transnational organized crime. (June 5 and June 8)

• Professor Peter Reuter, University of Maryland School of Public Policy and Department of Criminology. Professor Reuter is an expert on illegal markets and organized crime policy. (June 5 and June 8)

• RCMP Chief Superintendent Robert Gilchrist, director general of the Criminal Intelligence Service of Canada. (June 9-10)

• Inspector Leslie Stevens, Criminal Intelligence Service British Columbia/Yukon Territory Bureau. (June 9-10)

• Ryland Wellwood, civilian member analyst, RCMP. (June 9-10)

• Mark Sieben, deputy solicitor general, BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. (June 11-12)

• Chris Dawkins, executive lead, Finance Real Estate Data Analytics, BC Ministry of

Finance. (June 11-12)

• Megan Harris, executive director and Anti-Money Laundering Secretariat lead, BC Ministry of Attorney General. (June 11-12)

• Sir Robert Wainwright, former executive director of Europol and partner with Deloitte based in the Netherlands. (June 15-16)