SURREY — Former Surrey city planner Akonyu Akolo has been given a 15-month conditional sentence for trying to solicit money from a developer.
Akolo, 48, pleaded guilty in October to one charge of breach of trust. He was sentenced Friday in B.C. provincial court in Surrey.
The breach occurred in early 2010 and concerned an application for a townhouse development on King George Boulevard in South Surrey.
In the summer of 2008, Akolo took over the file from another planner. In early November 2009, after months of working closely with developer Jack Saran, Akolo sent Saran an email addressing some issues with the project and requesting two payments: $44,100 for an indoor amenities contribution and $21,000 for cash in lieu of parkland.
Saran brought Akolo the cheques later that month and five days later a development permit was issued.
Akolo had to leave the country about a month later to attend to his dying sister in Uganda. When he returned in January 2010, he discovered the cheques in his desk. Akolo said he didn’t want to submit the cheques late because he was afraid of being reprimanded by his supervisor.
Akolo met with Saran and suggested that he could return Saran’s cheques in exchange for a fee. He said he would prepare an invoice for $30,000 for professional consulting services and then write a memo saying Saran’s fees had been paid.
Saran reported the incident to the city and police.
In February 2010, city officials met with Akolo and suspended him. He was later fired.
During the first nine months of his sentence, Akolo will be under house arrest, unable to leave his home except for pre-approved reasons. The next six months, he will be subject to a curfew.
