Peace Arch News, July 17, 2014

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Thursday July 17, 2014 (Vol. 39 No. 57))

V O I C E

O F

W H I T E

R O C K

A N D

S O U T H

Team triumph: The Semiahmoo Peewee Girls lacrosse acrosse players are provincial champions ns after a convincing 10-0 win over Ridge-Meadows -Meadows last weekend, culmination of a hard climb to success for the four year-old squad. quad. i see page 30

S U R R E Y

w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m

President accused after wife airlifted in severe medical distress from South Surrey home

Attempted-murder charge stuns temple Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter

A prominent leader of Surrey’s Sikh community was to appear in court Wednesday accused of trying to kill his wife. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team announced Tuesday that the charge against Baldev Singh Kalsi – president of the Gurdwara Sahib Brookside temple – had been upgraded to attempted murder from aggravated assault. The 66-year-old was arrested Sunday at a home in the 19400block of 32 Avenue, where police found his wife, Narinder, in severe medical distress. She was airlifted to hospital and placed on life support. Baldev Singh Kalsi The next afteraccused noon, IHIT announced the aggravated assault charge. “This tragic incident is domestic-related and not a random attack. The victim remains in hospital on life support and in critical condition. Her family has been notified,” Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pound said Monday. Surinder Jabal, spokesman for the temple – at 8365 140 St. – confirmed Kalsi is the current president. i see page 4

Evan Seal photo

Members of the Gurdwara Sahib Brookside temple – including senior vice-president Sardul Singh Rehal (centre) – attend Surrey Provincial Court.

Communications section the focus of allegations involving a senior officer

Second RCMP civilian worker claims harassment Nearly a year after allegations of sexual harassment were filed against a high-profile RCMP inspector who lives in White Rock, a second woman has accused the officer of sexual assault. The latest claim against Tim Shields – a former spokesman for the RCMP – was filed in B.C. Supreme Court on July 10 by Anitra Singh. She is described in the documents as a senior communications advisor for the RCMP E Division who reported indirectly to Shields, who

was at the time in charge of E Division’s strategic communications section. The claim – which also names the Attorney General of Canada as a defendant – alleges that Shields sexually harassed and assaulted Singh both physically and verbally from 2009 to 2011; that he “misused and/or abused his position of trust and/or authority and rank over the plaintiff.” The court documents cite damages including chronic pain, post-traumatic

stress disorder, concentration difficulties and depression. Singh is seeking compensation, including for loss of income, past and future medical costs, loss of earning capacity, as well as punitive and special damages. Shields has yet to file a response to a similar claim filed by Atoya Montague in August 2013. Montague – who was also a civilian member of the RCMP’s B.C. communications services – alleged Shields made

unwanted sexual advances to her starting in 2003. In her claim, she states the actions were in a context of “persistent and ongoing” sexual harassment practised by male officers with whom her job called for her to be in contact. Montague went on medical leave in August 2011. After her claim was filed, senior RCMP officials termed the allegations “uncorroborated and unsubstantiated.” None have been proven in court.

Tim Shields inspector

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