FOLLOWING a 20-month investigation, a Surrey man has been arrested and charged with child pornography offences.
In March 2020, the BC Integrated Child Exploitation Unit (BC ICE) commenced an online investigation The results of that investigation have been submitted to BC Prosecution Service for consideration of appropriate charges.
On December 13, 2021, 70-year-old Sant Mangat of Surrey, BC was officially charged with, one count of telecommunicate to lure a child under 16, and one count of possessing child pornography.
He was arrested without incident on December 15 and has since been released from custody with strict conditions, which include but are not limited to:
* Not to enter into or continue any dating relationship, or marriage, or common-law relationship with any person who has children under the age of 16 years old, or who has the care of or access to children under that age
* Not to access any computer network including the internet or possess any device capable of accessing the internet (with some exceptions).
* Not to attend any public park, public swimming area, daycare centre, school ground, playground, community centre, or theatre where persons under the age of 16 years are known by you to be present or can reasonably be expected to be present.
* Not to have any contact or communication, directly or indirectly, or be alone in the immediate presence of any person under the age of 16 except while in the immediate presence of another adult.
Mangat is expected to appear in Surrey Provincial court on January 4, 2022.
“If anyone has any information regarding this or any other case involving online Child Sexual Exploitation, we encourage them to contact the police of their jurisdiction to report their concerns,” said Cpl. Sharen Leung of BC ICE. “If you have questions about how to talk to you own children about online safety, please visit the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.”
The RCMP said that given that this matter is now before the court, they cannot provide any further specifics with respect to this investigation.