Retired RCMP officer charged with foreign interference

A retired RCMP officer has been charged with foreign interference, the Mounties said in a news release Friday.

William Majcher, 60, "allegedly used his knowledge and his extensive network of contacts in Canada to obtain intelligence or services to benefit the People's Republic of China," the RCMP in Montreal said in the news release.

The release alleged that Majcher "contributed to the Chinese government's efforts to identify and intimidate an individual outside the scope of Canadian law."

The alleged foreign interference did not involve elections or politics, an RCMP spokesperson said.

Cpl. Tasha Adams told Radio-Canada that Majcher works for a firm based in Hong Kong that was collecting information about an individual in Canada.

That information was being gathered on behalf of China, which wanted to target the person in question, Adams said. She added she did not know the nationality of the person being targeted.

Police said Majcher is from Hong Kong. He appeared in court in Longueuil, Que. by videoconference on Friday. He is charged with preparatory acts for the benefit of a foreign entity and conspiracy.

Both alleged offences fall under the Security of Information Act.

The RCMP said their Integrated National Security Team (INSET) launched an investigation into Majcher's "suspicious activities" in fall of 2021.

INSETs are multi-agency teams scattered across the country — sometimes made up of RCMP officers, provincial and municipal police service members and representatives of federal agencies — which investigate cases concerning national security, extremism and terrorism.

More to come …