Surrey Six victim's mother speaks out against poker player

Fate may be "coming back to bite" poker champion Sophon Sek, a murder victim's mother said Wednesday.

Eileen Mohan, whose son Chris, 22, was murdered in the October 2007 Surrey Six slaughter, said she hopes Sek won't get to enjoy the $364,364 grand prize he won at Sunday's B.C. Poker Championships.

Sek, 30, was charged on Monday with manslaughter and break-and-enter in connection with the gang-related shooting in the Vancouver suburb highrise.

Sek was given a voucher for his winnings, but RCMP officials asked that the money be withheld by the B.C. Lotteries Corp., which operates and licenses casinos.

"He has been going about his life as if nothing has happened. We see him playing poker while we as parents grieve," said Mohan, whose son was one of two innocent bystanders killed along with Ed Schellenberg, 55, a fireplace repairman.


"It seems fate is coming back to bite him. I truly hope he never gets to use it."

Casino spokesman Howard Blank said the RCMP request was made near the end of a tournament in which Sek defeated about 900 competitors, but the status of the winnings remain unclear.

"We don't know the status," Blank said. "There has been nothing official from either party. This is quite rare. I cannot remember something like this in the past."

Sek's lawyer, Alan Ip, said he plans to challenge the RCMP request. He said his client is a "decent" man with a young daughter and is not a gang member.

"I am very puzzled as to what legal grounds or standing they have to withhold the money or seize it," Ip said. "There is no allegation that is in any way related to any criminal offence he has been charged with, nor is it evidence — so I am quite puzzled as to what legal grounds they say they have to seize the money.

"It will be vigorously challenged. They can't hide behind public sentiment and public outrage and engage in these tactics."

The RCMP couldn't be reached for comment.

Gangsters Jamie Bacon, Matthew Johnston, Cody Haevischer and Michael Le also face charges in B.C.'s worst gangland killing.

Red Scorpion associate Dennis Karbovanec has pleaded guilty to killing three of the victims. He was convicted of second-degree murder and is serving a life sentence with no eligibility of parole for 15 years.

An unidentified person known as "Person X" is also charged.