Retired RCMP officer charged in foreign interference case
William Majcher, 60, allegedly helped Chinese government intimidate individual unlawfully
William Majcher, 60, "allegedly used his knowledge and his extensive network of contacts in Canada to obtain intelligence or services to benefit the People's Republic of China," the RCMP in Montreal said in the news release.
The release alleged that Majcher "contributed to the Chinese government's efforts to identify and intimidate an individual outside the scope of Canadian law."
The alleged foreign interference did not involve elections or politics, an RCMP spokesperson said.
Cpl. Tasha Adams told Radio-Canada that Majcher works for a firm based in Hong Kong that was collecting information about an individual in Canada.
That information was being gathered on behalf of China, which wanted to target the person in question, Adams said. She added she did not know the nationality of the person being targeted.
Police said Majcher is from Hong Kong. He appeared in court in Longueuil, Que. by videoconference on Friday. He is charged with preparatory acts for the benefit of a foreign entity and conspiracy.
Both alleged offences fall under the Security of Information Act.
The RCMP said their Integrated National Security Team (INSET) launched an investigation into Majcher's "suspicious activities" in fall of 2021.
INSETs are multi-agency teams scattered across the country — sometimes made up of RCMP officers, provincial and municipal police service members and representatives of federal agencies — which investigate cases concerning national security, extremism and terrorism.
Insp. David Beaudoin, the head of Montreal's INSET, told CBC the investigation was launched through a complaint-driven process, but the complaint didn't come from the victim.
Beaudoin said Majcher was arrested Thursday in Vancouver, but the investigation is taking place in Quebec because Majcher spent most of his RCMP career in B.C. He was with the force from 1985 to 2007.
"Because of those links, the national security program of the RCMP deemed it necessary to assign the file to a different unit," he said.
Majcher's next court appearance is expected next week.
Accused worked on money laundering cases
Beaudoin said the investigation examines alleged incidents taking place between 2014 and 2019.
Majcher's LinkedIn page says he worked on a number of money laundering investigations as a covert operator while serving with the RCMP.
In 2006 he moved to Hong Kong, where he has been working as a risk assessment adviser for the investment banking sector, says his LinkedIn profile.
According to his profile on the Hong Kong-based website Speakers Connect, Majcher founded a corporate risk firm called EMIDR in 2016.
EMIDR's website lists state-sponsored espionage, intelligence gathering and money laundering as some of its areas of expertise. It also says the firm specializes in asset recovery.
An Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) article from 2019 said Majcher was part of Project Dragon, a Chinese operation to recover money allegedly siphoned out of the country illegally.
In the article, Majcher is quoted as saying he is a "hired gun" for governments and corporations to "get back what is rightfully theirs." In terms of Project Dragon, he told ABC that he was working for a third-party "entity" that was associated with Chinese police "in some form or another."
Adams told CBC the evidence "appears" to suggest the Chinese government was one of Majcher's clients. But Beaudoin said the RCMP is unable to state whether these charges are related to Majcher's past employment.
With files from Kate McKenna
Chris Bowley
Reply to Chris Bowley
....and when the ceebeebcee audits this post it better audit everyone.
David Amos
Reply to Chris Bowley
C'est Vrai
Reply to Haley Jesso
Serious problem when a former law enforcement member aids the Chinese in interfering with the lives of Canadians. Guess he wanted to pad his pension. Hope he goes to jail for a long time.
David Amos
Reply to John Gaul
I am no fan of the RCMP However the dude is innocent until proven guilty
Reply to David Amos
I respect the RCMP, and have high regard for their duties, and yes... everyone is "innocent until proven guilty".
This is a statement of fact that many people would do well to observe before condemning anyone to be guilty of anything until all the context, circumstances, and irrefutable evidential facts have been observed, and considered.
Reply to John Gaul
Looks like Trudeau found his fall guy...
David Amos
Reply to Kevin Aryaman
Perhaps
Enoch Pemican
Most Canadians are far too insightful to fall for these types of diversions.
Mark Robinson
Reply to Enoch Pemican
Insight infers critical thinking of an objective, unemotional, or partisan nature.
Removing oneself, and all emotional attachments to a situation, or topic to observe, reflect, and deduce a most probable cause, or result absent of personal prejudice, or personal viewpoint.
Mark Robinson
Reply toMark Robinson
Correction...
"Insight infers critical thinking of an objective, unemotional, and devoid of any partisan, or personal nature."
David Amos
Reply to Enoch Pemican
I would not bet the farm on that
Harry Gothem
This guy took the money and did dodgy stuff for a Foreign government...
I hope they throw the book at him.
Enoch Pemican
Reply to Harry Gothem
Mao's little red book?
David Amos
Reply to Enoch Pemican
How about Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace"? It was a pretty good book
Manuel Santos
Reply to Stuart Katz
Reply to Manuel Santos
He is right
Reply to Manuel Santos
Why?
Reply to Freddie Philpott
OK, so If you believe Trudeau said there was no foreign interference, when did he say that? Why don't you have a quote of his words from a reputable source?
David Amos
Reply to Stuart Katz
Perhaps folks should review my lawsuit
Thank a Liberal...errr rather the CCP
Reply toScott Forrest
PP knows DJ was right
Rambo Syal
Reply to anthony westrup
Not even close
Reply to anthony westrup
How could PP know DJ was right when even DJ knew DJ wasn’t right? He didn’t resign because he did such a good job.
David Amos
Reply to Colin Johnston
You got that right
Reply to Blair Longstaff
Trudeau never said that.
Reply to Norm Jones
Oh yes he did
Reply to Blair Longstaff
several times
Reply to Blair Longstaff
No he did not. He has said multiple times that foreign interference from China did not effect election results. He has said there was foreign interference though many times, just that it didn't effect the elections. Show me a source that says Trudeau said there was no foreign interference?
Reply to Stuart Katz
No he did not, provide a single reliable source for that quote.
Reply to Norm Jones
It has been in the press several times.
Reply to Blair Longstaff
So you should have no problem finding a reliable quote to back that up. I have done a search for those very words and came up empty, other than where he has stated that it didn't effect elections which is not the same as saying there was no interference.
Reply to Blair Longstaff
>> "It has been in the press several times."
How? He never said it.
Reply to Norm Jones
Or should you
There is no defending this
Reply to Norm Jones
He was wrong to say that foreign interference did not affect the elections. The result of a Liberal minority is not being questioned, but it is unknowable whether individual seats were decided due to interference.
Content Deactivated
By the way CSIS has already stated that any interference did not affect the election results -- so it wouldn't actually matter.
Reply to Jerry Smith
And even if they did since when does our government listen to CSIS, they also said the Freedom Convoy didn't constitute a threat or meet the threshold for the emergencies act.
CSIS absolutely did say the EA the authorised and constitutional.
>> "There is no defending this"
The only one defending officer Majcher is his lawyer.
Everyone else wants to see him face a fair trial.
Trudeau said that based on what CSIS stated.
Reply to Blair Longstaff
"It has been in the press several times" - Hint: pretending the likes of breitbart or fox entertainment are legitimate 'press' is the problem. Read something that is legally required to be factual (i.e. an actual news org) and you would be MUCH better informed.
Reply to Blair Longstaff
Methinks you struck a nerve N'esy Pas?
Justin called the enquiry. Stop stalling it
Reply to Rambo Syal
Why, Interference only happens in the Conservative party, remember Kamikaze Kenny, Harper back room deal with Scheer/Max.
Reply to Bill Rock
I recall a far bigger deal than that
Otoole was elected in a landslide after being "interfered" with
Reply to anthony westrup
Hilarious.
Reply to anthony westrup
Interference is a serious problem. Your minimizing it is not helpful.
David Amos
Reply to anthony westrup
OToole knows everything Trudeau knows I made certain of it
Agent 86 would be dismayed by this news.
David Amos
Reply to Felix Good
However the man from UNCLE is snickering
John Racz
Hey Justin! Is it time for a public inquiry yet?
Reply to John Racz
No, waste of money.
Reply to Bill Rock
So you say
Reply to David Amos
Reply to Bill Rock
Reply to Bill Rock
Reply to anthony westrup
JT call inquiry first
Reply to anthony westrup
so only PP wanted him gone? What about Jagmeet, and the Bloc?
Reply to Stuart Katz
They offered solutions...Not PP
Reply to anthony westrup
what solutions are you talking about specifically?
Reply to anthony westrup
Who cares what PP thinks?
Chris Spring
Throw the book at him.
Reply to Chris Spring
The Feds should read the book first
No one listens to PP....
Rightfully so
Reply to anthony westrup
Perhaps one day he will listen to me
Reply to Joseph Gordon
Sounds as if the guy was caught, so...what's your point?
Reply to Joseph Gordon
And just what do you expect JT to do about that, stand him in front of a firing squad, PM's in canada are not the same as dictator of a country.
Reply to Joseph Gordon
Yet PP is covering his eyes and refusing to get the security clearance required to look at the evidence. Hmm...
Reply to Bill Rock
Dictators don't shut down protestors bank accounts.
Reply to John Carey
Your Right, Dictators will send the dogs in there to take care of the protestors.
JT did it within the law, they were Canada's MAGA "basket of deplorables" I was hoping the Police would dispose of these undesirables once and for good.
Reply to Bill Rock
Reply to David Amos
Reply to Bill Rock
Reply to David Amos
I'm so scared.