Thursday, November 15, 2012 Surrey/North Delta Leader 13
Surrey gangster loses murder appeal Raminder Bhander wanted conviction in 2008 shooting of Sunny Bains quashed
by Jeff Nagel CAr theftS in Surrey
were down another 16 per cent in the first six months of 2012, while vehicle break-ins dropped another 28 per cent. The statistics released by the provincial government show a continuing decline in auto crime in recent years. The turning point was the introduction of the Bait Car program in 2002, when auto crime was steadily rising and B.C. had one of the highest rates in North America. Surrey car thefts have plunged 66 per cent since then, from 2,426 in 2003 to 817 in 2012 (all figures for the first six months of the year). The drop was 78 per cent over that period for the entire Lower Mainland. Thefts from vehicles in Surrey are down 59 per cent since 2002 and 64 per cent across the region. ICBC officials say auto crime hasn’t been eradicated and thieves still prowl parking lots and streets looking for easy targets. Older vehicles are at greater risk because they often don’t have effective anti-theft devices and are easier to steal.
“By removing valuables, using an electronic vehicle immobilizer and parking in well-lit areas, you’re helping to prevent auto crime,” transportation minister Mary Polak said. ICBC tips for avoiding auto crime include: • Use an anti-theft device and remove possessions from your vehicle - shopping bags, spare change, electronics, briefcases, and the vehicle’s spare keys. • Electronic immobilizers are the best protection. They’re hard-wired into vehicles and shut down the starter, ignition and/ or fuel system. They require a special key or electronic device to start the engine and usually attach to your key ring. • Steering-wheel locks are a good visual deterrent for auto thieves but offer a lower form of protection. • Park in well-lit areas, near pedestrian traffic. • Keep your garage door opener out of sight. If parking on the street outside your residence, take the garage door opener with you. • Wait for the garage door gate to close behind you when entering a parkade. Thieves could take this opportunity to slip inside.
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Bhander then went to a friend’s house and the two men went with a loaded gun to the townhouse shared by Bains and his girlfriend near 125 Street and 72 Avenue. As Bhander neared the entrance, Bains came downstairs towards Bhander with a sword. Bhander fired the gun repeatedly, hitting Bains four times – twice in the back. Bains died at the scene. Bhander was arrested and charged a few weeks later. During the trial, Bhander
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admitted he shot Bains, but claimed it was in self-defence. At the time of Bhander’s conviction, police said Bhander was a longtime gangster who was heavily involved in the drug trade and who they were happy to see off the streets. “He was certainly a thug, who liked to beat on people and settle disputes as he did with this one,” said Cpl. Dale Carr, thenspokesman for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT). “Not a guy we want in the neighbourhood.”
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Steady decline in Surrey with Bait Cars
Dale Carr
HOLT
Car thefts, break-ins drop again
“He was certainly a thug, who liked to beat on people and settle disputes as he did with this one. Not a guy we want in our neighbourhood.”
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A Surrey mAn who shot another to death in 2008 will remain in prison after the appeal of his second-degree murder conviction was dismissed last week. Raminder (Mindy) Singh Bhander was found guilty in July 2010 of shooting 24-year-old Tejvir (Sunny) Bains to death. He was handed a mandatory life sentence with no chance of parole for 10 years. Bhander appealed the convic-
tion, arguing the judge erred in admitting certain statements and that police violated his rights during questioning when he confessed to killing Bains. The three B.C. Court of Appeal justices disagreed and his appeal was denied in a Nov. 7 unanimous decision. During the trial, the court heard that in late January 2008, Bhander, Bains and Bains’ girlfriend had a fight at a Surrey restaurant. The run-in was followed by an angry voicemail left for Bhander.
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