An Abbotsford man who was cleared of eight drug and weapon charges in 2018 has now been charged with seven weapon offences after a police traffic stop on Tuesday (Dec. 14).
Abbotsford Police Const. Paul Walker said at about 7:40 a.m. that day, patrol officers responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle in the 32100 block of Sorrento Avenue.
Walker said officers recognized the driver, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs, and they began an impaired-driving investigation.
Walker said, during the investigation, a loaded handgun was found on the driver. He was taken into custody and was issued a suspension of his driver’s licence under the Motor Vehicle Act.
Sukhjit Malhi, 23, has now been charged with:
• having a loaded handgun;
• possession of a firearm contrary to an order;
• possession of a firearm without a licence;
• possession of a firearm without a licence or registration;
• occupying a vehicle knowing a firearm is present;
• possession of a firearm with an altered serial number; and
• careless use or storage of a firearm.
“Today no traffic stop is routine for our front-line officers,” Walker said. “This type of criminal lifestyle is not welcome in our city, as these individuals operate in a high-risk lifestyle.”
Malhi was among three 19-year-old men arrested in 2017 who faced a total of 18 charges, including for trafficking fentanyl and possession of a firearm.
RELATED: Abbotsford man cleared of eight drug and weapons charges
At the time, police said the three were linked to the ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflict.
Malhi was acquitted of all eight of his charges in September 2018.
But while he was on bail from the 2017 charges, he was charged with five more offences in February 2018. In October of that year, he was sentenced to just under a year in prison and two years’ probation on a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
The four other charges were stayed.
RELATED: Man sentenced for having fentanyl while on bail for eight offences
vhopes@abbynews.com
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