No charges laid after border agents search Penticton home: lawyer

PENTICTON – The lawyer representing a Penticton family whose home was searched by Canada Border Services Agency agents late last week says no charges have been laid in connection to the raid.

Border services agents searched Paul Singla's home at 567 Heather Rd. in Penticton on Thursday, June 7. The house also serves as the administration offices for Singla Bros. Holdings Ltd.

Singla's lawyer Paul Varga says in a written statement "no charges have been laid against any member of the Singla family. The family is also unaware of any charges laid against any employee of, or person connected to, any of Paul Singla’s businesses."

Canada Border Services Agency has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Varga also takes issue with recent media reports saying they contained uncorroborated, anonymous claims that there were “a large team of agents” at the home on Friday, June 8. He says that is incorrect.

"Previous reports that implied Singla Bros. Holdings Ltd. had boasted of operating 200 rental units in connection with the border agent’s investigation are erroneous," Varga's statement also reads.

Singla Bros. Holdings has been in business in the Penticton area since 1973. The company is involved in property development, rentals and excavating services across the Okanagan Valley, according to the Singla Bros. website.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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