Jack Wilson (Red Deer Advocate) – An RCMP officer has been ordered to stand trial on 15 charges following a preliminary hearing that concluded Friday in Red Deer.
Const. Hoa Dong La, 45, was facing 17 charges but the Crown withdrew a count of making a false statement and provincial court Judge Albert Chrumka found insufficient evidence to warrant La stand trial on one of four unlawful harassment charges.
The six-day hearing heard evidence from more than 16 witnesses.
La is alleged to have threatened tenants of residential properties acquired through fraud.
He will now stand trial in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench before a judge sitting alone on 10 charges of fraud valued at more than $5,000 each, three counts of unlawful harassment and two counts of extortion.
Crown prosecutor Leah Boyd of Edmonton and Calgary lawyer Ian McKay, representing La, conducted the case.
La was ordered to appear in Queen’s Bench on Jan. 10 to possibly set a date for the trial which could take more than two weeks.
There was a ban on publication of any evidence heard during the hearing.
La, who was previously based at Innisfail RCMP detachment, was posted in Calgary at the Immigrant and Passport Section. He is currently suspended with pay.
A public complaint in 2006 triggered an investigation into his activities, police said earlier.
Police alleged earlier that residential properties and mortgages were acquired through “false representations to banks. RCMP also allege that tenants at some properties were harassed.
The offences allegedly occurred in Innisfail, Camrose and Airdrie.
RCMP have completed their own investigation under their Code of Conduct rules and regulations.
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