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McCallum says ‘Marpole Rapist’ release into Surrey ‘not only disturbing but infuriating’

Victim’s relative told ‘Now-Leader’ Gary Jagur Singh is getting day parole at Surrey halfway house
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Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum is demanding RCMP release information about the “Marpole Rapist” after the Now-Leader reported earlier this week that he will be released into the city.

But Surrey RCMP Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards said he “personally advised” the mayor of the situation “on two separate occasions and provided him the information that could legally be provided to him.”

A victim’s relative told the Now-Leader that Gary Jagur Singh is being released on day parole to a Surrey halfway house as of Thursday (Jan. 9).

READ ALSO: ‘Marpole Rapist’ to get day parole in Surrey, victim’s relative warns

In an emailed release Friday, McCallum states it’s “not only disturbing but infuriating to the people of Surrey” that Singh will be released on day parole.

Edwards said that the “limited information” that police are able to provide in these cases “can cause frustration, we have a legal obligation to balance the privacy of individuals and the risk to public safety.”

He said police can only breach that privacy “under the strictest of circumstances,” and in this situation, “that threshold was not reached.”

A Parole Board of Canada document reveals Singh, 64 has been granted day parole but denied full parole.

He is serving an indeterminate sentence for four counts of sexual assault with a weapon, eight counts of break and enter with intent, three counts of robbery and seven counts of sexual assault.

On June 10, 1994 he was designated a dangerous offender.

“The Board notes that experts in your case have advised that your sexual deviancy can never be cured, but it can be managed,” the document states.

Singh had, between January 1988 and August 1991 “sexually offended against” 11 victims who were strangers to him. Three were forcefully taken off the street and assaulted in darker, secluded areas while the other eight were attacked in their apartments, where they had been sleeping when he broke in.

Singh’s possible release to a Surrey halfway house “all the more irresponsible and troubling,” McCallum said.

He said he is “frustrated” by the lack of information coming from the RCMP.

“For the safety of the people of Surrey, I believe that our residents need to be told where this prolific sexual predator is residing in Surrey. That information should be made available immediately,” McCallum said.

OUR VIEW: Surrey residents have right to know about rapist in their midst

However, Surrey RCMP Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards said that when the Surrey RCMP was notified of Singh’s release, “we conducted our own assessment that included the fulsome decision” by the parole board.

“Unfortunately, the threshold for a Public Interest Disclosure was not met in this situation for a variety of reasons including whether the individual posed an imminent threat, the recommended conditions, and the strong release plan approved by the Parole Board,” Edwards said in an emailed release.

“However, we are aware of the significant conditions in place for this individual, including electronic monitoring, and we will be monitoring this individual, along with Correctional Service Canada.”

Edwards said while he acknowledges the “frustration expressed” by McCallum, and “Surrey RCMP share many of these concerns,” it is “important to recognize there is a significant process in place” by the board to “determine if and when an offender can be released into the community and the conditions they are put under.”

He said he shares the public’s concern about Singh.

“I can assure the residents of Surrey that the correct processes were followed in this situation, and that we have a team specifically assigned to monitoring these type of offenders to ensure they do not breach their conditions or impact public safety in any manner.”

It’s not the first time a Surrey mayor has spoken out a sex offender.

Former mayor Linda Hepner spoke twice about sex offender Jeffrey Goddard.

READ ALSO: Hepner says ‘enough already’ after ‘high risk’ sex offender returns to Surrey, Oct. 2, 2018

READ ALSO: Hepner says ‘it’s absolutely ridiculous’ high-risk sex offender living in Surrey, Feb. 2, 2017

With files from Tom Zytaruk



lauren.collins@surreynowleader.com

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