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Nov 6, 2020 4:21 PM -

Former RCMP officer testifies, gaming minister knew about organized crime at casinos

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Commissioner Austin Cullen listens to introductions before opening statements at the Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia, in Vancouver, on February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

A former RCMP officer testified that a British Columbia cabinet minister told him in 2009 that the gaming minister knew about organized crime at casinos but was more focused on the revenue generated by gambling.

Fred Pinnock who was formerly in charge of the now-defunct illegal gambling enforcement team, made the comments yesterday at the provincial inquiry into money laundering.

Pinnock says he met with then solicitor general Kash Heed, who told him his concerns were legitimate but that gaming minister Rich Coleman was ``all about the money.''

The inquiry also heard that the arrests of several people tied to organized crime and illegal gambling in 2017 led to dramatic reductions in revenue at casinos, but only for two to three weeks.

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