The trial of former RCMP officer William Majcher, accused of acting on behalf of Chinese authorities, has concluded in British Columbia Supreme Court, with a verdict expected next month.
Majcher, who pleaded not guilty, faces a charge under Canada’s Security of Information Act related to allegations that he acted as a proxy for the Chinese government in an attempt to coerce a Canadian resident in 2017.
During closing arguments, defence lawyer Ian Donaldson argued that the Crown’s case relied entirely on circumstantial evidence and failed to prove intent. He told the court there was no concrete evidence linking Majcher to the alleged target, Vancouver-area businessman Kevin Sun, and warned it would be “unsafe” to draw conclusions from a single email cited by prosecutors.
The Crown, led by prosecutor Ryan Carrier, maintained that Majcher’s communications clearly pointed to Sun, who is wanted in China for fraud. Prosecutors argued that details in Majcher’s 2017 email matched Sun’s case and suggested the former Mountie was acting with the backing of Chinese authorities.
The trial also revealed new details about past co-operation between the RCMP and Chinese police, including a 2018 incident in which three visiting Chinese officers reportedly went missing for several hours while under RCMP escort in Vancouver, raising concerns about potential unauthorized actions.
Testimony from RCMP officials outlined how Canadian officers would sometimes assist Chinese authorities by questioning individuals while foreign officials were present — a practice that has since drawn scrutiny amid growing concerns over foreign interference.
The Crown argued Majcher’s actions represented an “affront” to Canadian sovereignty, alleging he helped extend the reach of Chinese authorities into Canada. However, the defence countered that prosecutors failed to prove the necessary intent for a criminal conviction, emphasizing that the alleged communications could have lawful interpretations.
Justice Martha Devlin has reserved her decision, with a ruling expected on May 13.
