Former Kamloops lawyer convicted of first-degree murder in killing of client

A former Kamloops lawyer has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of one of his clients, a Thompson Rivers University lecturer whose death shocked the local legal and academic communities.

Rogelio “Butch” Bagabuyo was convicted in B.C. Supreme Court for the March 11, 2022 killing of Mohd Abdullah. The court heard that Bagabuyo stabbed Abdullah multiple times inside his law office after stealing nearly $800,000 from him, money that had been entrusted for legal matters.

Prosecutors said the killing was planned and deliberate, noting that Bagabuyo attempted to conceal the crime by placing Abdullah’s body into a large tote bag and removing it from the office. Abdullah, a business lecturer at Thompson Rivers University, was reported missing by family members after he failed to return home.

The case raised serious concerns within the legal profession in British Columbia, particularly around lawyer oversight, trust accounts, and client protections. The Law Society of British Columbia disbarred Bagabuyo following his arrest, citing multiple breaches of professional conduct tied to the theft of client funds.

The conviction brings a measure of closure to Abdullah’s family and colleagues, while also prompting renewed discussion about safeguards in the province’s legal system to prevent similar abuses of trust.