Newly elected KSA Representative facing criminal charges in Surrey and Pitt Meadows
Alvin Chand is scheduled to appear in court over incidents that allegedly took place in October and December
The Runner has learned that recently elected Kwantlen Student Association Arts Representative Alvin Chand is facing criminal charges in Surrey and Pitt Meadows related to incidents that allegedly took place in October and December.
Chand, who was the only candidate who ran in the KSA by-election, was elected on Dec. 9 after receiving 31 “yes” votes and 26 “no” votes.
As an elected faculty representative, Chand is responsible for representing Kwantlen Polytechnic University arts students at KSA general council meetings, and for advocating and lobbying for the interests of those students. Representatives attend meetings and public appearances, consult with members of their constituency, submit reports to council, organize workshops and events for students, vote on motions presented to council, and submit budget annual proposals to council executives.
Chand was charged with driving while prohibited in Surrey on Oct. 5, and was charged with mischief, dangerous operation of a conveyance, and failure to stop after an accident in Pitt Meadows on Dec. 13. These charges have yet to be proven in a court of law.
Chand was later released from police custody on Dec. 14 and told The Runner that he had been arrested on Dec. 12 after he was allegedly assaulted in a racially-motivated attack.
A spokesperson for the RCMP said that they could not confirm the date and time of Chand’s arrest.
“I just left jail because there’s a racist white guy that attacked me, and he managed to articulate that somehow I’m the crazy Brown man that did it,” Chand told The Runner in the moments following his release.
“Holy shit. I can’t believe I’m out of there. This is a lot right now, to be honest. I’m glad we’re talking, but I literally just got out of jail.”
Chand said that he believes the charges against him will be dismissed.
“It’s going to get dismissed, I know that much. It has to be. It makes no sense whatsoever for me to be in jail because I’m a good person. I literally go to school, and I have political ambition.”
Chand added that he planned to notify the KSA about what had taken place but did not specify when that would be.
“I’m going to talk to the KSA about everything that I need to. I’ll talk to the KSA. I just got elected, so I need to actually talk to the KSA about all of this,” he said.
Chand told The Runner that one of the reasons he decided to run was to bring attention to an incident that took place in March 2020, where he believes he was discriminated against while grocery shopping in Cloverdale.
According to online records, Chand has appeared in court seven times in connection to a seperate charge of mischief in relation to property for $5,000 or under that was brought against him in May 2020. His final appearance was on Oct. 21, 2021, when the matter was concluded with a stay of proceedings directed by the Crown.
The Runner will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
