Shah ‘confident’ he broke no laws, lawyer says in statement
Lawyers for controversial inner-city landlord Abdullah Shah have issued a statement after police executed search warrants on properties belonging to Shah and at least two associates this week, stressing that no one has been charged in the investigation.
“Police regularly investigate matters and they do not always determine that any offence has been committed,” Erika Norheim, Shah’s lawyer, said in a written statement provided to Postmedia.
“Often an investigation leads to the conclusion that no offence has been committed, and Mr. Shah is confident that he did not commit any of the potential offences under investigation.
“Mr. Shah is happy to assist with any inquiries that the authorities may have.”
Police and Canada Revenue Agency investigators were seen entering five commercial properties on 111 Avenue in Mccauley on Wednesday afternoon. Investigators appeared to be handling computers and hard drives.
Police said the search warrants were part of a six-month investigation into a “group of property owners.” Postmedia has learned the investigation relates to allegations that include laundering the proceeds of crime, trafficking controlled substances and tax evasion.
A police spokesperson said earlier this week that charges are pending, but declined to name any suspects.
All five 111 Avenue properties behind the police tape on Wednesday are owned by three numbered companies. Their front windows were boarded up or otherwise covered. Only one had signage for a company that’s listed as permanently closed.
Police also taped off and searched a single-family home in south Edmonton’s Haddow neighbourhood — an address that was listed on corporate registry searches for all three companies.
Two of the Mccauley addresses — 9325 111 Ave. and 9323 111 Ave. — are owned by a numbered company that lists Shah as its director and sole shareholder.
Shah, also known as Carmen Pervez, is well known in Edmonton’s inner city for owning a large number of rental properties that some neighbours associate with crime and disorder. He earlier did jail time for his role in a mortgage fraud scheme.