A B.C. Supreme Court judge is expected to deliver a verdict today in the foreign interference trial of former RCMP officer William Majcher, who is accused of acting on behalf of the Chinese government in an alleged campaign targeting a Vancouver-based businessman wanted for financial crimes in China. Majcher has pleaded not guilty to one count under Canada’s Security of Information Act related to “engaging in preparatory acts to commit an offence.”
The Crown argues that Chinese authorities used Majcher as an intermediary to pressure millionaire real estate investor Hongwei “Kevin” Sun, allegedly circumventing Canadian laws that prevented direct contact by Chinese officials. Prosecutors pointed to a 2017 email written by Majcher in which he discussed locating more than $100 million in assets connected to a “fraudster” and referenced efforts to negotiate a settlement with Chinese authorities. Crown lawyer Ryan Carrier argued the email showed Majcher was helping facilitate coercive pressure tactics outside official diplomatic channels.
Majcher’s defence team rejected the allegations, calling the Crown’s interpretation a “leap of logic.” Defence lawyer Ian Donaldson argued the emails reflected legitimate asset recovery work and not criminal conduct, describing his client as someone prone to exaggeration and informal language. The closely watched case is considered one of Canada’s most prominent foreign interference prosecutions and comes amid growing national concerns over foreign influence operations.
