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North Vancouver kidnap allegation sparks probe

THE Real Estate Council of B.C. is investigating a North Vancouver real estate agent after she was arrested and criminally charged as part of a kidnapping plot.

THE Real Estate Council of B.C. is investigating a North Vancouver real estate agent after she was arrested and criminally charged as part of a kidnapping plot.

Nazfar Victoria Mirhadi, 28, was among seven people nabbed following a dramatic take down by Vancouver police and RCMP in Richmond Oct. 21.

Some of the seven arrested are alleged to have links to the Red Scorpions and Independent Soldiers gangs.

Mirhadi was to appear in Vancouver provincial court for a bail hearing Thursday.

Meanwhile, Maureen Coleman, manager of compliance at the Real Estate Council, said the regulatory body is looking into "whether or not the charges bring into question Ms. Mirhadi's qualifications to be licensed under the Real Estate Act."

Under one section of the act, "they need to be of good reputation and suitable to be licensed," she said.

According to the council, Mirhadi has been licensed since 2006.

Every two years, real estate agents must renew their licenses and submit to a criminal records check. They are also required to notify the council if they are charged or convicted of a criminal offence.

Coleman said the company Mirhadi works for, AFB Realty in Vancouver, wasn't aware that Mirhadi had been charged until contacted by the council.

Vancouver police took up the case after learning that a 29-year-old man had been kidnapped from a restaurant on Oct. 20. Investigation soon led to surveillance of a Richmond business.

While police watched, on Oct. 21, a blindfolded man was led from the building and bundled into a vehicle. The vehicle suddenly pulled over on Highway 91 and the victim was pushed out of the car. Police moved in.

Others arrested in the kidnapping include Demple Brar, 42, of Richmond, Thomas Crawford, 30, of Kamloops, Robert Carr, 28, of Abbotsford, Edmond Gammel, 24, of Surrey, David Tarrant, 28, of Kamloops and Veronica Moncur, 20, of Kamloops.

Police said the kidnapping was financially motivated and is believed to be tied to organized crime in Eastern Canada. Additional charges are expected in connection with weapons and other items seized.

According to the Vancouver Sun, Nazfar Mirhadi is the sister of Mohammed Mirhadi, who was gunned down as he watched Donnie Brasco at the Famous Players Esplanade 6 movie theatre at 200 West Esplanade in North Vancouver on Feb. 28, 1997.

Gunman Michael Caster was sentenced to life in prison for the murder in February 1999.

jseyd@nsnews.com