A three-bedroom home in East Vancouver, previously a Hells Angels clubhouse, is being sold by the British Columbia government as part of their civil forfeiture process. The government has seized various assets linked to crime, including cash, cars, and homes, in an effort to combat organized crime. Critics argue that civil forfeiture lacks the protections of a criminal process and affects innocent individuals.
VANCOUVER — The three-bedroom East Vancouver home that's about to hit the market includes a brick fireplace and finished basement, along with a private back deck. The seller is motivated. The home at 3598 East Georgia St. is one of three former clubhouses of the Hells Angels that now belong to the British Columbia government after the Supreme Court of Canada chose not to hear an appeal related to the province's controversial civil forfeiture process.
Executive director Phil Tawtel said that a 2009 court ruling known as the Chatterjee decision meant that legislation dealing with the proceeds of crime was legal. The latest decision means seizing "instruments of crime," such as the biker clubhouses, is legal too. The appeal ruling found there was an "inescapable" inference that the clubhouses would continue to be used for criminal activity and that members relied on them as a "safe space” to plan or commit criminal acts.
While more expensive items can involve a lengthy public court process, seized items worth less than $75,000 can go through an administrative process that only involves a judge if someone challenges the claim within 60 days. "But nothing in the legislation stops these types of things from happening to people who are committing much less serious crimes, who are not actually profiting from crime, or who are committing offences that aren't even crimes. And there's nothing to stop the penalties from being really disproportionate to the alleged offences."
Song represented the Hells Angels in court, but said he was only speaking in his capacity with the BCCLA.
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Former Hells Angels Clubhouse in Vancouver Listed for SaleA three-bedroom home in East Vancouver, previously a Hells Angels clubhouse, is being sold by the British Columbia government as part of their civil forfeiture process. The property, valued at $1.52 million, is one of three former clubhouses seized by the government. Civil forfeiture is seen as a way to combat organized crime, but critics argue it lacks the protections of a criminal process.
Read more »
Former Hells Angels Clubhouse in Vancouver Listed for SaleA three-bedroom home in East Vancouver, previously a Hells Angels clubhouse, is being sold by the British Columbia government as part of their civil forfeiture process. The property, valued at $1.52 million, is one of three former clubhouses seized by the government. Civil forfeiture is seen as a way to combat organized crime, but critics argue it lacks the protections of a criminal process.
Read more »
Former Hells Angels Clubhouse in Vancouver Listed for SaleA three-bedroom home in East Vancouver, previously a Hells Angels clubhouse, is being sold by the British Columbia government as part of their civil forfeiture process. The property, valued at $1.52 million, is one of three former clubhouses seized by the government. Civil forfeiture is seen as a way to combat organized crime, but critics argue it lacks the protections of a criminal process.
Read more »
Former Hells Angels Clubhouse in Vancouver Listed for SaleA three-bedroom home in East Vancouver, previously a Hells Angels clubhouse, is being sold by the British Columbia government as part of their civil forfeiture process. The property, valued at $1.52 million, is one of three former clubhouses seized by the government. Civil forfeiture is seen as a way to combat organized crime, but critics argue it lacks the protections of a criminal process.
Read more »
Former Hells Angels Clubhouse in Vancouver Listed for SaleA three-bedroom home in East Vancouver, previously a Hells Angels clubhouse, is being sold by the British Columbia government as part of their civil forfeiture process. The property, valued at $1.52 million, is one of three former clubhouses seized by the government. Civil forfeiture is seen as a way to combat organized crime, but critics argue it lacks the protections of a criminal process.
Read more »
Former Hells Angels Clubhouse in Vancouver to be Sold by GovernmentA three-bedroom home in East Vancouver, previously a Hells Angels clubhouse, is being sold by the British Columbia government as part of their civil forfeiture process. The property is valued at $1.52 million and is one of three former clubhouses now owned by the government. Civil forfeiture is seen as a way to combat organized crime, but critics argue it lacks the protections of a criminal process.
Read more »