LANDLORD TOLD TO FORFEIT HOUSES

A judge has ordered a man to surrender two of three Vancouver
properties that were used for marijuana grow operations.

Even though Sarban Singh Rai did not know there were grow-ops in the
houses he rented out, B. C. Supreme Court Justice Arne Silverman
concluded that Rai was "wilfully blind" and received proceeds of
illegal activity.

Rai's trial was the first conducted in B. C. conducted under the Civil
Forfeiture Act. Rai owned three houses on Boundary Road. When police
searched the houses in May 2008 they found major modifications to all
three and a total of 2,254 plants in varying stages of development,
worth up to $507,000.

Rai was never charged -- or contacted by police -- in connection with
the grow-ops.

The director of civil forfeiture sought either whole or partial
forfeiture of the properties.

Rai is a longshoreman and property developer who for portions of the
period between 2003 and 2008 owned and rented out 12 properties.

He claimed he had no prior knowledge of the operations and never
inspected the properties, nor did he know the names of his tenants.

Silverman agreed that Rai had no personal or direct involvement in the
grow operations; however, he said that Rai was an experienced landlord
who knew what steps needed to be taken when renting to tenants.

He concluded that Rai was likely suspicious of what was happening but
deliberately did not make inquiries so he could remain ignorant.