AI Generated Summary
- The convictions stem from an attack on a residence in Surrey’s Crescent Beach area earlier this year, an incident that authorities believe was connected to a series of extortion threats targeting members of the local community.
- A Canadian court has handed prison sentences to three young men of Punjabi origin for their roles in a shooting and arson incident linked to an extortion investigation in Surrey, British Columbia.
- According to court proceedings in Surrey Provincial Court, the three accused — Taranveer Singh, Harjot Singh and Dayajeet Singh Billing — admitted their involvement in the case and entered guilty pleas on June 9.
A Canadian court has handed prison sentences to three young men of Punjabi origin for their roles in a shooting and arson incident linked to an extortion investigation in Surrey, British Columbia.
The convictions stem from an attack on a residence in Surrey’s Crescent Beach area earlier this year, an incident that authorities believe was connected to a series of extortion threats targeting members of the local community.
According to court proceedings in Surrey Provincial Court, the three accused — Taranveer Singh, Harjot Singh and Dayajeet Singh Billing — admitted their involvement in the case and entered guilty pleas on June 9.
Taranveer Singh, who was 19 years old when the offence occurred, pleaded guilty to recklessly discharging a firearm. The court sentenced him to five years in prison. After accounting for time already spent in custody, he is expected to serve nearly four-and-a-half more years behind bars.
Harjot Singh and Dayajeet Singh Billing, both 21 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to offences related to throwing an explosive substance. Each received prison terms of slightly more than two years. Following credit for pre-trial detention, Billing will remain incarcerated for approximately 20 months, while Harjot Singh will serve about 18 months. Both will also be subject to two years of probation after their release.
The attack took place in the early hours of February 1, 2026, when gunshots were fired at a home near Crescent Road and 132 Street. Investigators also reported a small fire outside the property. No injuries were reported, although the incident heightened concerns about extortion-related violence in the region.
Police officers from the Surrey Police Service’s anti-extortion unit and Major Crime Section arrested the three suspects shortly after the attack. Authorities said the men initially attempted to flee on foot before entering a ride-share vehicle, where they were subsequently apprehended.
The case had earlier attracted public attention after police released photographs of the accused without their turbans. The images, which also showed visible facial injuries, sparked criticism among some members of the Sikh community and human rights advocates, who questioned the handling of the suspects’ religious identity and treatment in custody.
Canadian authorities had described the three men as foreign nationals and coordinated aspects of the investigation with the Canada Border Services Agency. While the sentences will be served in Canada, immigration authorities are expected to review the men’s status once their prison terms are completed. Deportation proceedings could follow after their release.
The convictions come amid ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies in British Columbia to curb a growing number of extortion-related incidents that have targeted homes and businesses across the province.
