B.C. money laundering inquiry closes with additional testimony from Rich Coleman

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — B.C.’s inquiry into money laundering heard its final witness Friday, with former solicitor general Rich Coleman taking the stand for the second time in less than a month.

Coleman was recalled to face questions about his apparent rejection of money laundering concerns raised by RCMP Insp. Barry Baxter in January of 2011. At that time, Baxter told the CBC he was suspicious that dirty money was being laundered through casinos in the province, saying large cash transactions suggested that something “stinks.” In a follow-up, Coleman told the CBC he did not agree with Baxter’s concerns, describing his comments as “offside.” Coleman was the province’s minister in charge of gaming for several years between 2001 and 2017.

.@colemancountry’s second round of testimony at #BC’s #MoneyLaundering inquiry has him repeatedly trying to explain conflicting comments he made to media 10 years ago compared to what he told the Cullen Commission in April. #bcpoli #DirtyMoney @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/XG5EUevXCS

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) May 14, 2021

The commission’s senior counsel Brock Martland, asked Coleman Friday if he “downplayed” the concerns raised by Baxter.

“I don’t think I downplayed it. I think the situation was I had a media report that was unusual from a senior member of the RCMP. That media report meant we had to go back and see what the background was for that and we didn’t have a lot of background or comments from this individual,”  he said.

“I don’t think I downplayed this at all. We were trying to manage it, but at no time did I downplay the fact there was not work being done and that we were aware of the fact large cash transactions in casinos and that we were continuing to do the work. That was the case.”

RELATED: B.C.’s former Solicitor General called back to stand at Cullen Commission

When Coleman first testified in April, he told the commission that he would have been worried by Baxter’s concerns in 2011. The apparent contradiction between that and his comments in media interviews was a key focus of the second round of questioning.

Coleman testified that although he can’t remember exactly what he was thinking and feeling in 2011, he took exception to Baxter speaking to the media.

“I would have probably said, if I was able to talk to him, ‘Why aren’t you conducting an investigation and pursuing this? Because I can’t. You have the statutory authority to do the investigation. You’re making public comments about something, So, what’s the substantive evidence that stands behind your comments? Because you’re the police, I’m not. That’s what I might have said, but I didn’t have that opportunity,” he explained.

“It was just my feeling that his superiors wouldn’t agree with what he said, or how he said it, I mean he may have permission to do the interview, I don’t know — I would question that. However, it was some pretty broad comments that captured everything as been one thing, and that is that any large cash transaction was ‘stinky’ in B.C. casinos.”

Under questioning by Senior Commission Counsel Brock Martland and his own lawyer (Gavin Cameron), former solicitor general Rich Coleman denies he tried to interfere with police investigations involving #dirtymoney exchanging hands in #MetroVancouver casinos. #bcpoli @NEWS1130

— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) May 14, 2021

Under questioning by his own lawyer Gavin Cameron, Coleman says he never asked Inspector Barry Baxter’s superior officers at the RCMP to muzzle him.

Coleman also admitted he was frustrated when he was asked about Baxter’s comments.

“It’s an unfortunate turn of words. In an interview that can happen,” he said, adding he doesn’t recall anyone taking exception to his remarks at the time.

“In this case when we get to be able to look at it from a 20,000 foot level, 10-and-a-half years later, you could say, ‘Well I shouldn’t have said that.'”

Now that Coleman has wrapped up his testimony, the Cullen Commission is on a break until July 6th –when closing submissions start.

With files from the Canadian Press