Gangster loses appeal of four- month assault sentence

A longtime gangster who pleaded guilty to assault in a 2011 incident at a Chilliwack lumber mill has lost his appeal of a four- month prison sentence.

Manjit ( Mike) Adiwal claimed on appeal that the trial judge made a mistake by relying on “unproven and disputed facts,” according to a B. C. Court of Appeal ruling released Thursday.

And Adiwal said the judge didn’t consider his prospects for rehabilitation.

But Appeal Court Justice Anne MacKenzie said the original judge knew the motive for the May 2011 attack was disputed and didn’t consider it an aggravated factor at sentencing.

MacKenzie also dismissed an appeal by Adiwal’s associate Preetpal Sangha, who got four months as well after pleading guilty to uttering threats.

“In my view, the appellants have not demonstrated that the sentences were in substantial and marked departure from the range of sentences imposed for similar offences and similar offenders,” MacKenzie wrote. “I consider the judge properly exercised his broad statutory discretion and imposed fit sentences.”

Her colleagues, justices Nicole Garson and Edward Chiasson, agreed.

Adiwal pleaded guilty a year ago to assaulting a man with whom Sangha had a dispute. The Chilliwack mill was co- owned by Sangha’s father and an unrelated man named Gurpreet Sangha, who was targeted in the attack.

The Crown alleged at trial that the younger Sangha got involved in a dispute his dad had with his business partner and brought Adiwal along because of his reputation in the criminal underworld.

MacKenzie said the sentencing judge considered Adiwal’s prospects for rehabilitation.