Four convicted in 2023 East Vancouver home invasion and kidnapping

Four people have been convicted in connection with a violent home invasion and kidnapping that took place in East Vancouver on March 11, 2023, following a year-long investigation by the Vancouver Police Department.

According to a Vancouver Police Department release, the case involved seven crime scenes and the abduction of four from a family home. Investigators say the victims were forced from the residence, driven the city, and held against their will for a period of time.

Police arrested three suspects in April 2024 and forwarded charges to Crown counsel. Charges were later recommended against a fourth suspect. One of the accused, a youth who was 17 at the time, pleaded guilty to lesser offences including unlawful in a dwelling house and forcible confinement. The youth was sentenced in Youth Court in 2024 and has since completed the sentence.

Two adult suspects, Duoth Techen Garkouth, 21, and Ramadhan Ibrahim-Hussein, 21, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and break-and-enter charges. A third adult, Sijuola Obatusa, 23, was found guilty following a trial in Supreme Court, with the decision delivered April 2.

“All three adult offenders are currently in custody,” police said. Their next court appearance is scheduled for May 6, when a date for sentencing will be set.

Constable Darren Wong said in the release that the outcome reflects the extensive investigative work involved and provides a measure of justice for the victims.