Former minister responsible for gaming in #BC for several years under Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark governments tells @CullenInquiryBC he never asked for that portfolio.

Rich Coleman also says he never personally benefited from holding that file.

#bcpoli #moneylaundering

Under questioning by Senior Commission Counsel Brock Martland, @colemancountry says “everyone was alive to the fact” in 2001 the gaming system in #BC needed to be “modernized.”

#bcpoli #CullenCommission #moneylaundering

Coleman says “there was never a discussion that we (government) need to do this for the money.”

He says money laundering concerns did not come up in the early years, but police were worried about loan sharks and thefts from parking lots.

#bcpoli #CullenCommission #DirtyMoney

Reviewing document dated June 2003, Coleman tells Martland there was some tension between operators of casinos and regulators, but saw no problems bringing @BCLC and #GPEB (Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch) under the same #BC government ministry.

#bcpoli #moneylaundering

Re: creation of #BC’s Integrated Illegal Gaming Enforcement Team, Coleman says was never supposed to be involved with casinos because that’s outside their mandate, but his “hope” was agency would report evidence of suspicious behaviour. #bcpoli #moneylaundering @CullenInquiryBC

Re: concerns raised about 2004 opening of River Rock casino in #Richmond, Coleman repeats #moneylaundering was not an issue raised with him, but tells Martland loan sharking was. #bcpoli #CullenCommission

Martland shows Coleman June 2004 article quoting him as saying he would look into allegations of suspicious behaviour at #BC casinos.
The former Mountie says it was challenging then to speak publicly about ongoing police investigations because that may compromise case.
#bcpoli

Earlier, Coleman told Martland he wasn’t aware of any police investigations re: gaming prior to opening of @riverrockcasino.

Asked if proceeds of crime and #moneylaundering investigation resources were sufficient in 2005, Coleman suggests funding was adequate. #bcpoli

Coleman says “in the business of crime, there is a lot of money that moves around” and “crime finds ways to make money” and role of government is to find police at level they can keep up. #bcpoli #moneylaundering @CullenInquiryBC

Coleman mentions creation of #BC’s civil forfeiture act as a tool government could use to take proceeds of crime away.

Re: #GPEB “Large Cash Transaction Reporting” notice issued to him in February 2012, Coleman confirms that flags concerns raised about #moneylaundering. #bcpoli

Martland reads from document showing @bclc staff received anti-money laundering training and other checks done to keep criminals out.

Coleman says he believed @bclc had strong measures in place to track suspicious behaviour. #bcpoli @CullenInquiryBC

Hearing now on break.

Testimony of Rich Coleman @CullenInquiryBC has resumed under questioning by lead Commission Counsel Brock Martland.
@colemancountry says “culture shift” in gaming has seen move away from cash transactions to ticket-in and ticket-out system re: slot machines. #bcpoli @BCLC

Re: concerns about moving away from cash because letting gamblers use credit cards could lead to more addiction, Coleman says it was not as simple in 2012 as it is now to remove cash as an option. #bcpoli #moneylaundering @CullenInquiryBC

Coleman now reviewing June 2013 document re: Anti-Money-Laundering and FINTRAC Compliance.
He says he was confident @BCLC staff were doing the best they could to keep crime elements out of casinos. #bcpoli @CullenInquiryBC

Now reviewing an email sent to him in 2010.
It details suspicious behaviour at #Vancouver’s #Edgewater casino.

Coleman says he does not remember seeing it, but suggests he would have forwarded it to appropriate authorities for investigation.

#bcpoli @CullenInquiryBC

Prior to 2010, Coleman says key concern was problem gambling.

Were proceeds of crime a concern?

Coleman says there are global issues with how money is moved and in January 2009, more police dedicated to going after gangs and guns, but loan sharking also part of that.

#bcpoli

Re: decision to disband the Integrated Illegal Gaming Enforcement Team in 2009, Coleman says he could not justify continued funding for that “dysfunctional” 12-member agency and shifted resources elsewhere.

Doesn’t remember request for more money.

#bcpoli #CullenCommission

Re: request from @naomiyamamoto to meet with Fred Pinnock, Coleman says he felt that would be wrong because Pinnock involved with IIGET.

Disagrees with suggestion he was dismissive and Coleman doesn’t remember meeting Pinnock at a fundraiser for fellow #BCLiberal MLA Yamamoto.

Asked if he yelled at Yamamoto when she raised concerns about #moneylaundering in cabinet meetings, Coleman says that never happened because he does not yell and is always calm.
Also rejects Pinnock claims he turned a “blind eye” to criminal behaviour in #BC casinos. #bcpoli

Coleman says he does not remember conversations with deputy minister in 2010 re: needing to do something “now” about #moneylaundering.

He doesn’t remember declining requests to let police carrying guns into casinos.

#bcpoli @CullenInquiryBC