Former B.C. minister allowed to cross-examine old friend at money-laundering inquiry

Former B.C. cabinet ministerKashHeedhas been granted limited participant status at the public inquiry into money laundering so he can cross-examine a former RCMP officer.

Commissioner Austin Cullen saysHeedhas 90 minutes to question Fred Pinnock, who testified at the inquiry earlier thatHeedtold him B.C.'s gaming minister knew about organized crime at casinos.

Heedsought limited status to cross examine Pinnock, who said the former solicitor general told him in 2009 that the gaming minister at the time, Rich Coleman,was more interested in the generation of casino revenues than possible money laundering.

"[Heed]said to me, in effect, "That is what's going on, Fred, but I can't say that publicly. You know it's all about the money,'" Pinnock said during a hearing on Nov. 5.

Pinnock testified he was the head of the RCMP's now disbanded Integrated Illegal Gaming Enforcement Team when he first spoke withHeed, a former police chief in West Vancouver. Pinnockalso said he and Heed were once longtime friends.

Pinnock also testified he recordedHeedyears later as the former minister repeated his 2009 comments about Coleman's approach to gaming concerns.

The B.C. government launched the public inquiry after three reports outlined hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal cash affected the real estate, luxury vehicle and gaming sectors in the province.