A Surrey soccer coach has been arrested for allegedly travelling to Washington State to have sex with a “12-year-old girl” who turned out to be a U.S. special agent, according to U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement officials.
Kuldip “Kelly” Singh Mahal is alleged to have crossed the border at Blaine, Washington after responding to an ad on Craigslist.
He then went towards a park in Burlington, about 80 kilometres south of the border, where he had agreed to meet an undercover agent posing as the girl, say authorities.
“In three weeks’ time, the defendant went from responding to an online posting to traveling from Canada to Washington State to meet a minor for illicit sex,” said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Seattle Brad Bench in a release. “Fortunately, he was actually communicating with an undercover HSI special agent.“
The ad was posted in the “casual encounters” section of the Vancouver, B.C. Craigslist page on Jan. 15, saying “I’m a bit young and want to learn some things.”
“The defendant responded and was interested in engaging in elicit sexual conduct with agent posing as a minor,” said Agent Peter Ostrovsky with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Mahal is alleged to have sent a photo of his upper body and arms, expressing a sexual interest in the “12-year-old girl.”
Officials then allege he continued to communicate with the undercover agent, having a sexual conversation and sending nude photos of himself via text while asking the “girl” to send some of herself in return.
The 47-year-old is a facilities manager for a Vancouver tech firm and volunteer coach of an under 16 B.C. soccer team.
Officials with the soccer club where Mahal coaches told CTV News they were upset about the allegations against the well-respected coach and that they will conducting their own investigation.
“We received a confirmation that the criminal record check undertaken for Mr. Mahal was clear,” said Martin Foden with the Surrey United Soccer Club. “In light of the news today and in accordance with standard protocols, Mr. Mahal has been suspended as a coach until further notice.”
Homeland Security doesn't know if there are any victims and say they're grateful he approached an undercover agent and not a vulnerable child online.
“We are working with Canadian law enforcement, specifically the RCMP and the Vancouver Police. We have been in contact with them,” said Ostrovsky. “We are aware that they're pursuing inquires of their own in order to further develop the investigation.”
Mahal made his first court appearance Wednesday and will stay in in custody until his next hearing on Feb. 9.
He is charged with attempted enticement of a minor, which carries a minimum sentence of ten years and as much as life.
With files from CTV’s Mi-Jung Lee
