Former Surrey city planner gets house arrest in attempted bribery case

SURREY - Former Surrey city planner Akonyu Geoffrey Akolo has been sentenced to 15 months house arrest for trying to squeeze a bribe out of a land developer.

Judge Michael Hicks sentenced Akolo, 48, in Surrey provincial court on Friday. During the last six months of his sentence, Akolo will have to abide by an 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.

“Each time this conduct comes to light, our public institutions suffer,” Hicks said.

Akolo pleaded guilty to breach of trust by a public officer.

The Crown stayed charges of corrupt municipal official, agent giving false account to deceive principal, fraudulent concealment and bribing an agent, which had also been laid against him.

Akolo sought a $30,000 bribe from developer Jack Saran in exchange for not cashing cheques owing to the city.

In response, Saran told Surrey city officials and the RCMP about Akolo’s proposal and the city planner was subsequently fired.

Hicks noted Saran was “an innocent party” in the case.

The maximum penalty for Akolo’s crime is five years in prison.

Crown prosecutor Kevin Marks had argued for a jail term of 15 months while Akolo's lawyer Jennifer Currie asked Hicks to consider a conditional sentence order - house arrest - for nine to 12 months, or a jail term of three to four months instead.

Akolo immigrated to Canada from Uganda in 1991, and was hired by Surrey’s planning department in 1993. He is married and has a son and two daughters.

“Mr. Akolo was entrusted with a substantial level of responsibility,” Hicks noted.

After Akolo was exposed, Surrey city hall underwent an extensive audit that cost taxpayers nearly $1 million. As a result of Akolo’s conduct, Hicks added, his colleagues have been subject to an “increased level of scrutiny and stress.

The court heard Akolo had no prior criminal record and wants to return to Africa to work.

 â€œI accept Mr. Akolo is remorseful for his conduct,” Hicks said.

“He has suffered personal embarrassment.”

After the sentence was passed, Saran told reporters he thinks Surrey city hall needs an “overhaul” and called for more auditing. “This is the starting point,” he said.

tzytaruk@thenownewspaper.com