Connect with us

Canada News

Former Olympic rower, investment dealer gets 13 month jail sentence for fraud

Published

on

Backer, 55, wearing a grey pinstriped suit and red tie, did not say a word during his sentencing hearing, choosing to let his lawyer, Joven Narwal, speak to the court on his behalf. (Photo: Victoria Police Department)

Backer, 55, wearing a grey pinstriped suit and red tie, did not say a word during his sentencing hearing, choosing to let his lawyer, Joven Narwal, speak to the court on his behalf. (Photo: Victoria Police Department)

VICTORIA — Former Olympic rower Harold Backer received a 13-month jail sentence Wednesday after pleading guilty to fraud, but no answers were provided about his mysterious 18 month disappearance that sparked an international police search.

Backer, 55, wearing a grey pinstriped suit and red tie, did not say a word during his sentencing hearing, choosing to let his lawyer, Joven Narwal, speak to the court on his behalf.

Two of Backer’s children, his older brother, other relatives and a former rowing coach were in the courtroom to support him.

“Mr. Backer wishes to express his deep remorse for his conduct through me,” said Narwal. “He does not wish to address the court.”

Backer, a three-time Olympian and Princeton University graduate, had been facing two charges of fraud over $5,000 and had pleaded not guilty on both counts. He abruptly changed the plea to guilty on Wednesday in Victoria provincial court to a single charge of fraud over $5,000.

Judge Carmen Rogers also gave the former investment dealer three years of probation. The sentence included credit for one month of time served in jail.

In an agreed statement of facts, Backer promised to pay restitution of $161,900 to five people.

Before he was led away from court, Backer hugged his children and brother, who declined to answer questions outside court.

Backer disappeared on Nov. 3, 2015, when he failed to return home after telling his family he was going out for a bike ride. He surrendered to police in Victoria in April 2017 and his whereabouts while he was missing have never been explained.

His disappearance was not mentioned during the sentencing hearing, where a joint submission was presented to the court by both Backer’s lawyer and Crown counsel.

“The information that is of concern to the Crown is the period between May of 2013 and November of 2015, and that’s the period when these offences have been carried out, and that’s the period we’re concerned about with the prosecution,” Crown counsel spokesman Daniel McLaughlin said outside court.

Narwal also said his client’s disappearance was not connected to the sentencing.

“As you can assume, the answer to that question wasn’t relevant to today’s sentencing hearing and I won’t be answering that,” he said after the hearing.

Victoria police said in a statement the department was offering no comment at this time.

After his disappearance in November 2015, police in Port Angeles, Wash., said an officer who viewed video from a street security camera noted a man fitting Backer’s description was aboard a ferry from Victoria, a 90-minute trip away.

Soon after he disappeared, financial crime investigators began looking into Backer and the company My Financial Backer Corp. after his investors received letters that concerned them.

Narwal told the court his client often expressed remorse in terms of an athlete failing his team.

“He’s let down the people who cared most deeply for him,” said Narwal. “In rowing, if you don’t perform well enough, you let down the team.”

Backer never intended to defraud his investors, Narwal said.

“The investments, and let’s say the optimism related to these investments, did not bear the fruit he was hoping for. And so loses occurred.”

Backer was on the Canadian rowing team in the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games.

 

 

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Maria in Vancouver

Lifestyle1 month ago

Becoming Your Best Version

By Matter Laurel-Zalko As a woman, I’m constantly evolving. I’m constantly changing towards my better version each year. Actually, I’m...

Lifestyle2 months ago

The True Power of Manifestation

I truly believe in the power of our imagination and that what we believe in our lives is an actual...

Maria in Vancouver3 months ago

DECORATE YOUR HOME 101

By Matte Laurel-Zalko Our home interiors are an insight into our brains and our hearts. It is our own collaboration...

Maria in Vancouver3 months ago

Guide to Planning a Wedding in 2 Months

By Matte Laurel-Zalko Are you recently engaged and find yourself in a bit of a pickle because you and your...

Maria in Vancouver3 months ago

Staying Cool and Stylish this Summer

By Matte Laurel-Zalko I couldn’t agree more when the great late Ella Fitzgerald sang “Summertime and the livin’ is easy.”...

Maria in Vancouver4 months ago

Ageing Gratefully and Joyfully

My 56th trip around the sun is just around the corner! Whew. Wow. Admittedly, I used to be afraid of...

Maria in Vancouver5 months ago

My Love Affair With Pearls

On March 18, 2023, my article, The Power of Pearls was published. In that article, I wrote about the history...

Maria in Vancouver5 months ago

7 Creative Ways to Propose!

Sometime in April 2022, my significant other gave me a heads up: he will be proposing to me on May...

Maria in Vancouver6 months ago

Why Eating Healthy Matters

We are what we eat, so don’t be fast, cheap, easy, or fake — we should take these words to...

Maria in Vancouver6 months ago

Maria Goes To Lapu Lapu Day Block Party!

On April 27, 2024, the Filipino community of Vancouver had its first Pinoy multi-Block Party in the most diverse neighbourhood,...