A haggard-looking Robinderpal “Robin” Rathor wiped his eyes Wednesday morning when Surrey Provincial Court Judge Peder Gulbransen said Rathor, the former owner of a Langley currency exchange, brought “shame and humiliation” upon his family by getting arrested for money laundering.
Gulbransen then sentenced Rathor to two years, less a day, of house arrest for exchanging $560,000 U.S. in four transactions in April and May of 2008 for two men he believed were drug dealers.
The pair were actually an undercover RCMP sergeant and corporal.
Police raided the two currency exchanges run by Rathor, Global Tourist Centre (GTC) at 20505 Fraser Highway and Capital Forex at 5560 204 St. on May 26, 2008.
At the time the 33-year-old Rathor also worked as a corrections officer.
He had no criminal record.
At an earlier sentencing hearing, the defence presented a thick sheaf of 85 letters attesting to Rathor’s good character that describe what the judge called an “outstanding citizen,” a kind, hardworking man from a law-abiding family, who is always willing to help people.
“Why would such a good man get involved in such a bad crime?” Judge Gulbransen said during the Wednesday (Oct. 5) sentencing.
“That is a mystery, but not one this court has to solve.”
The closest anyone has come to an explanation was defence lawyer Richard Peck, during the previous hearing, who described his client as “a person who is desperate to please … desperate to help others.”
Judge Gulbransen noted Rathor reaped only a modest reward, just over $16,000 in fees, from his violation of the laws designed to prevent criminals and terrorists from converting illegally obtained money into “clean” currency.
He described Rathor as “naive” about the criminal lifestyle, yet “eager to become extensively involved in money laundering.”
The prosecution wanted jail but the judge agreed with the defence argument that imprisonment would be excessive for “one bad mistake” by “a person of otherwise good character.”
“I think a lot of the punishment has taken place with you being charged and convicted,” Gulbransen told Rathor.
In addition to the embarrassment to his family, Rathor’s marriage has fallen apart, the court has been told, and he’s lost $264,000 in money seized by the police from the business and the loss of the business itself.
The judge imposed a late-night curfew and ordered Rathor to perform 100 hours of community service.
“I can’t figure out why someone like you would get into this sleazy money laundering business,” the judge told Rathor.
“If you get involved in crime again, you won’t get another break,” Gulbransen added.
Prosecutor Charles Hough stayed related criminal charges against Taranjit Rathor, the younger cousin of Robinderpal and a partner in the Langley currency exchanges. At a previous court hearing, the prosecutor said the younger Rathor “took a back seat” to his older relative during the illicit transactions and was “essentially along for the ride.”
