Two members of the Canadian Armed Forces, identified as Sachintha Fernando and James Moreau from the 7 Toronto Regiment, have been arrested by Toronto police. The arrests, which occurred on August 11, were made in connection with charges involving organized crime, kidnapping, and firearms theft. Following their arrests, both individuals have been relieved of their duties, and their access to military facilities and bases has been restricted.
Toronto police disclosed that Fernando, aged 22, and Moreau, aged 29, face a total of 49 charges. These charges include kidnapping for ransom, forcible confinement, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, use of a firearm during an indictable offense, and mischief interfering with property. Furthermore, Fernando has been specifically charged with additional firearms-related offenses like unauthorized possession of a prohibited device, possession of property obtained by crime, and careless storage of ammunition.
The ongoing investigation is being closely monitored by authorities, with more details expected to be released at a later stage. Both accused individuals hold the rank of bombardier, and the Department of National Defence has stated that they will remain as members of the armed forces pending the outcome of an administrative review.
While Fernando joined as a reservist in January 2020 without deployment, Moreau enrolled as a reservist in March 2018 and was deployed in 2020 on Operation Laser amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Christian Leuprecht, a professor at Royal Military College and Queens University, reserve members like Fernando and Moreau do not hold the same positions of responsibility and sensitivity as regular force members or officers. He emphasized the importance of ensuring appropriate supervision for all armed forces members to uphold the country’s rules and laws.
Despite these incidents, Leuprecht acknowledged the challenges faced in rapidly growing the organization and meeting recruitment targets. He described such occurrences as outliers, underlining the necessity for members in uniform to adhere to public expectations.
