Crown Counsel has dropped 17 charges against a Surrey man who was formerly on Canada's Top 25 Most Wanted list.
The Crown entered a stay of proceedings on Feb. 8 and May 31, 2024 on the following charges against Amardip Singh Rai: sexual assault; confining a person without lawful authority; administering noxious substance with the intent to endanger the life or cause bodily harm; two counts of assault with a weapon; nine firearm-related charges, some of which include possession of a firearm without licence and/or registration; and three counts of possession of a controlled substance.
In an email to Black Press Media, a spokesperson for the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) stated on May 31, 2024 that Rai entered into a one-year recognizance order, which is an undertaking to comply with certain court-imposed conditions. It is not a criminal charge but can result in one if Rai does not comply.
"By entering into the recognizance, Amardip Rai acknowledged that a person had reason to fear and did fear that Amardip Rai would cause personal injury to that person as a result of an incident that occurred between July 20, 2019 and August 3, 2019 at or near Surrey," BCPS said.
Rai is also prohibited from possessing any firearms, crossbows, prohibited weapons, restricted weapons, prohibited devices, ammunition, or prohibited ammunition or explosive substance for five years.
Rai was originally declared wanted on 17 charges, stemming from an investigation that started in August of 2019, according to a release from Surrey RCMP Cpl. Vanessa Munn in January 2022.
Rai was initially arrested on April 28, 2021 by the Surrey RCMP Strike Force Target Team for an outstanding warrant related to the August 2019 investigation. Munn said he was released by the courts on May 7, 2021.
In the 2022 press release, Munn said it was alleged that Rai “failed to appear for a subsequent court date and therefore a warrant was issued for his arrest. Despite police efforts, he has not yet been located.”
Rai was arrested in Cloverdale in January 2023 for missing a court appearance.
