The former owner of a North Delta yoga studio whose business licence was revoked by the city for refusing to follow public health orders relating to COVID-19 is facing charges of violating the Quarantine Act after returning from a recent trip to the United States to attend a Flat Earth conference.
Makhan sa国际传媒淢aksa国际传媒� Singh Parhar of New Westminster, 47, has been charged with three counts under section 71 of the Quarantine Act for allegedly breaking his mandatory 14-day self-isolation on Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Nov.2.
According to posts on his Facebook page, Parhar was in the United States to attend an event called Flatoberfest 2020 in Greenville, South Carolina on Oct. 24. The event, which is described on its website as sa国际传媒渁n interactive conference for alternative cosmology enthusiasts,sa国际传媒� was attended by sa国际传媒渃lose to 400 peoplesa国际传媒� according to a video posted to Parharsa国际传媒檚 Facebook page.
A subsequent video shot at an anti-mask rally outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on Nov. 1 and shows him speaking to the crowd about his recent trip and his refusal to sign a sa国际传媒渜uarantinesa国际传媒� form at customs or abide by orders to self-isolate.
sa国际传媒淭hey call it quarantine sa国际传媒� itsa国际传媒檚 not really quarantine, itsa国际传媒檚 self-imprisonment. Thatsa国际传媒檚 what we did back in March. Itsa国际传媒檚 self-imprisonment sa国际传媒� put yourself in a jail and stay there, donsa国际传媒檛 interact with your friends, family, whatever. Stay inside and donsa国际传媒檛 have a life,sa国际传媒� Parhar says in the video.
SEE ALSO: (Nov. 5, 2020)
He then goes on to describe his interactions with customs officials at Vancouver International Airport after refusing to sign the required forms on the grounds that the Quarantine Act doesnsa国际传媒檛 apply to him based on claims he is not a sa国际传媒減ersonsa国际传媒� or a sa国际传媒渢ravellersa国际传媒� as defined by law.
sa国际传媒淭he border guard, she was rattled, she couldnsa国际传媒檛 believe that I didnsa国际传媒檛 fill out the form and I wasnsa国际传媒檛 complying. They arensa国际传媒檛 used to people that arensa国际传媒檛 obedient little sheep,sa国际传媒� Parhar says in the video.
sa国际传媒淚 go home [and] the next day I live my life because Isa国际传媒檓 not going to put myself in a prison, because Isa国际传媒檓 a free man with God-given rights.sa国际传媒�
He then describes New Westminster Police and RCMP visiting his home and serving him violation tickets for not observing the 14-day self-isolation.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a bit of an inconvenience that now I have to file the paperwork and say take your $1,150 toilet paper and shove it up your asa国际传媒� because Isa国际传媒檓 not going to pay it.sa国际传媒�
New Westminster Police arrested Parhar at approximately 11 p.m. on Nov. 2, according to a press release from the department.
Police allege that, despite being reminded of federal legislation requiring travelers to self-isolate under the Quarantine Act and receiving a violation ticket, Parhar refused to comply and continued leaving his residence.
sa国际传媒淥ur priority is the safety of New Westminster residents,sa国际传媒� Sgt. Sanjay Kumar said in a press release. sa国际传媒淰iolations of the Quarantine Act put others at risk. Travelers are required to self-isolate for 14 days, whether or not they have symptoms. This is something we take very seriously.sa国际传媒�
According to the , violating any instructions provided to you upon entering Canada or failing to provide accurate information is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to up to six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines.
If choosing to break your mandatory quarantine or isolation results in death or serious bodily harm to another person, you could face a fine of up to $1 million, up to three years in prison, or both.
Parhar, who made an appears in New Westminster provincial court on Nov. 3, remains in custody. His next court date is on Monday, Nov. 16.
In March, City of Delta bylaw inspectors suspended the business licence of Bikram Yoga Delta, owned by Parhar, after he refused to voluntarily cancel classes at the hot yoga studio in spite of public health orders issued by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. The business is now closed permanently.
READ MORE: (March 20, 2020)
editor@northdeltareporter.com
Like us on and follow us on
