2009 BC Poker Champion Crowned, Then Arrested For Murder The Very Next Day

[Roanan]

Another suspect arrested in Surrey Six murders

By Dan Ferguson - Surrey North Delta Leader
Published: November 24, 2009 1:00 PM
Updated: November 24, 2009 4:54 PM

Eileen Mohan got the phone call Monday afternoon, shortly after her lunch break.

An officer with the regional Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) was calling to let her know another person had been arrested in connection with the murder of her son Chris.

Cloverdale resident Sophon Sek, 30, appeared in Surrey Provincial Court Tuesday.

Sek faces one charge of manslaughter and two counts of break and enter with intent to commit an offence in connection with the murders of the six men found dead on the 15th floor of the Balmoral Tower at 9830 East Whalley Ring Rd. in Surrey on Oct. 19, 2007.

Court records show Sek was charged in July of 2008 with two weapons offences, one count of possessing a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition and one count of carrying a concealed weapon or prohibited device.

He was committed for trial in B.C. Supreme Court.

Sek is an accomplished poker player who won the B.C. Poker Championships at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond on Sunday night, taking home the grand prize of $364,364 and beating out more than 680 players.

He was arrested the next day.

Sek's apprehension brings to six the number of people charged in the slayings.

An IHIT statement said more arrests are possible.

So far, one person has pleaded guilty to being involved in the multiple murders.

In April, 27-year-old Dennis Karbovanec was sentenced to life in prison with no parole for 15 years after pleading guilty to three counts of second-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

Karbovanec struck a plea bargain with prosecutors that meant he would have a chance of leaving prison sooner than he would if convicted of first-degree murder.

The other arrested suspects are awaiting trial.

Jamie Bacon is charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder, while Cody Rae Haevischer and Matthew Johnson are each charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy.

Quang Vinh Thang “Michael” Le is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Two of the six victims – Mohan, who lived on the same floor where the murders took place, and 55-year-old Ed Schellenberg of Abbotsford – were likely killed to make sure there were no witnesses to the gangland slaying of 22-year-old Edward (Eddie) Sousakhone Narong, 21-year-old Corey Jason Lal and his 26-year-old brother Michael Justin Lal, and 19-year-old Ryan Bartolomeo, all Surrey residents.

Those four were all known to police and believed to have links to gangs and the drug trade.

According to allegations in a lawsuit filed by Chris Mohan's mother and father, it was Karbovanec who personally shot and killed Chris Mohan.

The statement of claim alleges Karbovanec was acting on the orders of Jamie Bacon and Michael Le, who sent Karbovanec and at least two other men – Cody Haevischer and Matthew James Johnston – to the Surrey condominium to kill Corey Lal, who was using the suite to manufacture and sell illegal drugs.

The Mohans allege Bacon and Le told the three men to kill any witnesses to the murders.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Bacon, one of Abbotsford’s notorious Bacon brothers and a member of the Red Scorpions gang, is currently seeking his release from solitary confinement.

He is also asking to have the court proceedings stayed until his defence is funded by legal aid.

The other men previously arrested and charged in the case are also being kept in isolation and are expected to follow Bacon’s lead in seeking legal aid and the easing of their prison restrictions.

[me_and_ed]

Another suspect arrested in Surrey Six murders

By Dan Ferguson - Surrey North Delta Leader
Published: November 24, 2009 1:00 PM
Updated: November 24, 2009 4:54 PM

Eileen Mohan got the phone call Monday afternoon, shortly after her lunch break.

An officer with the regional Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) was calling to let her know another person had been arrested in connection with the murder of her son Chris.

Cloverdale resident Sophon Sek, 30, appeared in Surrey Provincial Court Tuesday.

Sek faces one charge of manslaughter and two counts of break and enter with intent to commit an offence in connection with the murders of the six men found dead on the 15th floor of the Balmoral Tower at 9830 East Whalley Ring Rd. in Surrey on Oct. 19, 2007.

Court records show Sek was charged in July of 2008 with two weapons offences, one count of possessing a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition and one count of carrying a concealed weapon or prohibited device.

He was committed for trial in B.C. Supreme Court.

Sek is an accomplished poker player who won the B.C. Poker Championships at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond on Sunday night, taking home the grand prize of $364,364 and beating out more than 680 players.

He was arrested the next day.

Sek's apprehension brings to six the number of people charged in the slayings.

An IHIT statement said more arrests are possible.

So far, one person has pleaded guilty to being involved in the multiple murders.

In April, 27-year-old Dennis Karbovanec was sentenced to life in prison with no parole for 15 years after pleading guilty to three counts of second-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

Karbovanec struck a plea bargain with prosecutors that meant he would have a chance of leaving prison sooner than he would if convicted of first-degree murder.

The other arrested suspects are awaiting trial.

Jamie Bacon is charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder, while Cody Rae Haevischer and Matthew Johnson are each charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy.

Quang Vinh Thang “Michael” Le is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Two of the six victims – Mohan, who lived on the same floor where the murders took place, and 55-year-old Ed Schellenberg of Abbotsford – were likely killed to make sure there were no witnesses to the gangland slaying of 22-year-old Edward (Eddie) Sousakhone Narong, 21-year-old Corey Jason Lal and his 26-year-old brother Michael Justin Lal, and 19-year-old Ryan Bartolomeo, all Surrey residents.

Those four were all known to police and believed to have links to gangs and the drug trade.

According to allegations in a lawsuit filed by Chris Mohan's mother and father, it was Karbovanec who personally shot and killed Chris Mohan.

The statement of claim alleges Karbovanec was acting on the orders of Jamie Bacon and Michael Le, who sent Karbovanec and at least two other men – Cody Haevischer and Matthew James Johnston – to the Surrey condominium to kill Corey Lal, who was using the suite to manufacture and sell illegal drugs.

The Mohans allege Bacon and Le told the three men to kill any witnesses to the murders.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Bacon, one of Abbotsford’s notorious Bacon brothers and a member of the Red Scorpions gang, is currently seeking his release from solitary confinement.

He is also asking to have the court proceedings stayed until his defence is funded by legal aid.

The other men previously arrested and charged in the case are also being kept in isolation and are expected to follow Bacon’s lead in seeking legal aid and the easing of their prison restrictions.

He has actually not taken home any money, the RCMP have his winnings "held" at this point.....See crime doesnt pay.

[PokingStars]

Is this really real? Wow... That sounds really really bad. Why would anybody do that when they play good poker?