Vancouver businessman David Ho charged with unlawful confinement and weapons offences

One of Vancouver’s richest men faces several serious criminal charges.

David Ho, owner of the University Golf Club and MCL Motors, was arrested following a police investigation that began in late December. Ho burst into public prominence in 1987 when he bought Gray Beverage.

Ho, 57, is charged with the following offences:

”¢  unlawful confinement
”¢  unlawfully causing bodily harm
”¢  storage of a firearm contrary to regulations
”¢  unauthorized possession of a firearm
”¢  possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition
”¢  possession of a prohibited weapon without a licence
”¢  possession of a controlled substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

According to a Vancouver Police Department statement, Ho connected with a woman on a chat line and brought her back to his house on December 28, 2008.

Ho allegedly prevented her from leaving at 4:45 the next morning. She called 9-1-1, a violent struggle allegedly occurred, and she managed to escape after suffering a fractured ankle and minor injuries.

Ho created the now-defunct Harmony Airways, which at one time was headed by former B.C. Liberal finance minister Gary Collins. Ho's father made a fortune as the head of Hong Kong Tobacco Co.

In a Maclean's magazine profile, journalist  Peter C. Newman once wrote that Ho "could buy and sell the half-dozen millionaires I have portrayed during the past six months".

In 2005, Ho was involved in a controversy  with then-VPD chief Jamie Graham. At the time, the department issued a news release declaring that media outlets had falsely claimed that Ho had paid for hotel rooms at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police conference  in Vancouver in 2004.

Ho is a former member of the Vancouver police board. He will appear in Vancouver Provincial Court on October 26.

Comments

8 Comments

sleepswithangels

Sep 28, 2009 at 3:35pm

It's kind of sad when money and power ends up being the defining factors in your life. Much better to make a name for yourself by being a major philanthropist. I suspect that one would then indulge their fantasies in a less violent and sordid way. If you're like myself and the vast majority of citizens, you can volunteer your time to worthy causes and not feel the emptiness that can lead to making bad choices when you need to feed the beast.
SMBs

eltron

Sep 28, 2009 at 4:04pm

Strange how if this guy were a normal Joe, he'd probably have his mug shot up with this article already. But since this Davie Ho is a pretty important billionaire, he get's a 2 sentence write up.

Money talks...

Sep 28, 2009 at 6:32pm

...and money silences.

How many times could David Ho buy the Georgia Straight?

How deep into the ground could he sue the paper?

we lost the class war

Sep 28, 2009 at 6:43pm

Kill two birds with one stone. People like David Ho are above the law because we have allowed them exploitative wealth and power at the expense of ordinary Canadians:

1. Nationalize the oil companies.

2. Implement food and energy price rollbacks and controls.

3. Double wages.

4. Make usury illegal.

5. Return to pre-Mulroney taxrates.

6. Seize estates over one hundred million dollars.

7. Prohibit capital flight.

Then, let the market sort it out.

G+M

Sep 28, 2009 at 10:58pm

The globe and mail is not allowing comments on this story "for legal reasons".

Money silences.

futher investigation?

Sep 29, 2009 at 1:58pm

"I am addicted to 'helping' prostitutes" -David Ho

The obvious question that no one seems to be putting in print is: Is this an isolated incident or is this simply the incident that surfaced in the media.

Liberal Connections

Sep 29, 2009 at 3:01pm

No one seems to mention that over the last 5 years, (and the 2009 election is not even published yet) he has donated almost $150,000 to the BC Liberal Party. Including 25K right before campbell announced plans to rebuy the university golf course off him as part of the Musqueam deal.

R2

Feb 2, 2012 at 11:44pm

You dirty "ho"