BCSC panel dismisses fraud allegations against Alberta resident and B.C. company

VANCOUVER, Nov. 17, 2016 /CNW/ - A British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) panel has dismissed fraud allegations against Robert James Maddigan and 0902395 B.C. Ltd.

In an amended notice of hearing issued January 23, 2015, BCSC staff alleged that Maddigan, an Alberta resident, and 0902395 committed fraud by failing to deliver shares or return the money of two investors who had lent money to 0902395. 

Maddigan is the sole director and officer of 0902395, a non-reporting B.C. company. 0902395 was a consultant to a coal company for the acquisition of a coal mine in Mongolia. In return, the coal company agreed to issue some of its shares to 0902395.

0902395 entered into loan agreements with 34 investors. Under those agreements, the investors were promised shares of the coal company, or in the alternative, a return of their funds.

In 2012, 0902395 received nine million shares from the coal company and, in 2013, transferred the shares to some of the investors. However, 0902395 did not fulfil the terms of its loan agreements with two investors. Instead, 0902395 chose to transfer certain of the shares to other of its creditors instead of the two investors.  

In its decision, the panel dismissed the fraud allegations, stating "There was no suggestion by the executive director, nor was there any evidence to show, that the debts repaid by the respondents ahead of their obligations to Investors A and B were anything other than bona fide legal obligations." The panel also noted that the respondents' "conduct lacks the requisite element of dishonesty for fraud."

You may view the decision on our website www.bcsc.bc.ca by typing Robert James Maddigan, 0902395 B.C. Ltd. or 2016 BCSECCOM 379 in the search box. Information regarding disciplinary proceedings can be found in the Enforcement section of the BCSC website.

Please visit the Canadian Securities Administrators' Disciplined List for information relating to persons and companies disciplined by provincial securities regulators, the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association (MFDA).

About the British Columbia Securities Commission (www.bcsc.bc.ca)

The British Columbia Securities Commission is the independent provincial government agency responsible for regulating capital markets in British Columbia through the administration of the Securities Act. Our mission is to protect and promote the public interest by fostering:

• A securities market that is fair and warrants public confidence
• A dynamic and competitive securities industry that provides investment opportunities and access to capital

Learn how to protect yourself and become a more informed investor at www.investright.org

SOURCE British Columbia Securities Commission

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