Former Surrey RCMP officer Dawwd (Daoud) Soukary has pleaded guilty to a single count of breach of trust following a corruption investigation that revealed his associations with gang members. The 30-year-old former probationary constable entered his plea in New Westminster Supreme Court on April 23, with sentencing scheduled for August.
Investigation and Charges
The corruption probe began in the summer of 2020 when police received allegations against Soukary and launched a covert investigation. He was initially arrested in January 2021 and resigned from the RCMP in June 2021 while still under investigation. In July 2023, Soukary was charged with 13 criminal counts, including eight counts of breach of trust, two counts of distributing cannabis, and one count each of trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, and theft over $5,000.
RCMP Response
Supt. Sanjaya Wijayakoon of the B.C. RCMP's major crime unit stated that the investigation was a complex but necessary undertaking to preserve public trust and confidence in the RCMP. He emphasized that the force took decisive action to address corruption within its ranks. RCMP Assistant Commissioner Elija Rain noted that the RCMP immediately suspended Soukary, revoked his security clearance, and stopped his pay after his initial arrest. Rain acknowledged that while such allegations are exceedingly rare, they can taint public perception, making swift action essential.
Gang Associations
Postmedia News learned early in the probe that Soukary had been associating with members of the Brothers Keepers gang. After resigning, he moved back to his native Ottawa and began working in real estate. However, following the charges in B.C., the Real Estate Council of Ontario cited him for failing to report the criminal allegations within five days and for not delivering copies of written agreements to his brokerage promptly. Soukary voluntarily terminated his real estate license and agreed not to reapply before July 1, 2026.
Background
Soukary was once a high school basketball star in Ottawa and later played college basketball at Cape Breton University in Sydney, Nova Scotia. His guilty plea marks a significant step in the RCMP's efforts to maintain integrity within the force. The court will determine his sentence in August, concluding the anticorruption investigation.
