Forfeiture case adds defendant

A new defendant has been added to a civil lawsuit launched by the province seeking forfeiture of a Salt Spring Island property that the government alleges was linked to a $200-million-plus international stock fraud.

In a consent order filed May 10 in B.C. Supreme Court, which is agreed to by both parties, Philippines resident Jay Lee was added as a defendant.

Other defendants in the case include Skye Lee, also known as Geordie Lee; Alicia Lee, spouse of Skye; Beresford Estates, which owns the $2.6-million Salt Spring Island property; and Vincent Manalastas, the sole director of Beresford Estates, believed to be living in the Philippines.

The May 10 filing says Jay Lee, who is believed to live in the Philippines, is the sole registered shareholder of Beresford Estates. It's not clear if any family relationship exists between Skye Lee and Jay Lee.

An earlier response from the defendants to the civil forfeiture claim denied wrongdoing and said a family member of one of the defendants, who lives outside Canada, beneficially owns and controls Beresford Estates. That family member was not named.

The B.C. Civil Forfeiture Office's lawsuit filed in December 2019 alleges the Salt Spring Island property at 391 Baker Rd. is the proceeds of crime and was used to launder money. The lawsuit alleges the money to pay for the then-$1.155-million house in 2014 and undertake $526,000 in renovations came from a US$165 million pumpand-dump stock fraud that used shell companies to hide the true owners of shares.

The amended forfeiture claim now states that Beresford is beneficially owned and operated by one or more of the existing defendants and Jay Lee. In the alternative, Jay Lee holds his interest in Beresford as a nominee owner in trust for Skye and Alicia Lee, says the amended claim.

The amended claim alleges Jay Lee was one of those who benefited from the pump-anddump scheme being moved through shell companies.