Ex-RCMP investigator charged in China interference plot gets bail – National | 24CA News
An ex-RCMP officer accused of trying to help the People’s Republic of China in a overseas interference operation has been granted bail.
William “Bill” Majcher was charged final Thursday with two counts of violating Canada’s official secrets and techniques legislation, the Security of Information Act, allegedly to learn the Chinese authorities between 2014 and 2019. Majcher is a retired Mountie who’s presently based mostly in Hong Kong after retiring from the power in 2007.
Few particulars are recognized concerning the case, however the RCMP informed Global News on Friday that they consider it concerned an operation to establish and intimidate somebody on Canadian soil. The goal of the alleged operation just isn’t recognized.
Majcher has been detained in British Columbia since his arrest on final week, and the allegations haven’t been examined in courtroom. Majcher’s launch comes with a number of circumstances, together with surrendering his passport and posting $250,000 in bail, in addition to weekly check-ins with the RCMP detachment in Burnaby, B.C.
Majcher’s lawyer, Ian Donaldson, stated that his consumer supposed to enter a plea of not responsible.
“The Security of Information Act is serious business … any offence in the act is serious and involves national security, but I won’t comment on the facts of the case,” Crown Attorney Marc Cigana informed reporters outdoors a courtroom in Longueuil, Que., Tuesday.
Donaldson’s workplace stated he was unavailable for touch upon Tuesday.
Majcher additionally should chorus from talking with Kim Marsh, one other former senior RCMP officer named as a co-conspirator in Majcher’s alleged exercise. Global News first reported Marsh’s connection to Majcher on Tuesday.
Marsh, who commanded an RCMP worldwide organized crime unit earlier than retiring and dealing as a non-public investigator, declined to remark when reached by Global News Monday.
But in an interview with on-line outlet The Bureau printed July 14, Marsh advised he had been “lumped in” with Majcher’s case and that he had come to the “attention” of legislation enforcement.
“I think that the focus of the investigation is to stop and investigate what the Chinese are doing here … There’s no doubt they are coercing Chinese nationals who are here either as citizens or permanent residents. And they have, along the way, been assisted by private investigators,” Marsh is quoted as saying.
“I believe, and others maybe, who have access to sensitive information, believe that’s the focus of the investigation. And somehow I’ve been lumped into this … which is pretty frustrating.”
