Prison guard from Abbotsford sentenced for giving cellphone to inmate<\/p>\n
Published 12:27 pm Wednesday, June 24, 2026<\/p>\n
A former B.C. correctional officer who had a relationship with an inmate received a two-year conditional sentence on Wednesday (June 24) for supplying him with a cellphone.<\/p>\n
Ramandeep Rai (previously Bassi), 31, of Abbotsford was sentenced in Port Coquitlam provincial court after previously pleading guilty to a charge of breach of trust by a public officer.<\/p>\n
A second count of breach of trust was stayed.<\/p>\n
Judge Diba Majzub said Rai\u2019s offence was \u201cvery serious.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHer actions jeopardized the safety and morale of her colleagues, the well-being of inmates and the confidence of the public in the commitment of correctional authorities to faithfully carry out their duties, which include the protection of the community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Majzub said Rai, who became a correctional officer in March 2021, was involved in a \u201csecret romantic relationship\u201d with an inmate at North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam for about a year, starting in September 2021.<\/p>\n
She supplied the man with a cellphone \u2013 a prohibited device for inmates in the facility and considered contraband \u2013 and the two used it to communicate with one another.<\/p>\n
The judge said the inmate also used the phone to contact \u201cout-of-custody associates suspected to be involved in the drug trade,\u201d although Rai had no knowledge of that.<\/p>\n
Majzub said an internal investigation at the prison into an unrelated matter in August 2022 led to the discovery of recorded conversations of a romantic nature between Rai and the inmate.<\/p>\n
The matter was referred to the RCMP about a month later, and Rai was placed on suspension and then resigned.<\/p>\n
The judge said a forensic exam of a cellphone found in the television of another inmate\u2019s cell, combined with the recorded conversations, demonstrated Rai and the inmate were in a relationship, she was aware of his cellphone use, and she assisted him in moving the phone around the prison.<\/p>\n
Majzub said Rai reported during a psychiatric assessment that she had developed an emotional relationship with the inmate.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe believed that a future relationship was possible, but she told him that a future relationship was contingent on him abandoning a criminal lifestyle. It appears she wanted to make him a better person. Ultimately, she realized that he cared only for the cellphone \u2026 and not for her,\u201d the judge said.<\/p>\n
Majzub quoted from a letter supplied by the Crown from the warden of North Fraser Pretrial Centre, who detailed the impact of Rai\u2019s offence.<\/p>\n
The judge said he agreed with the warden\u2019s opinion that the concealment of a cellphone in a prison \u201cposes serious threats to the safety and security of correctional staff, inmates and the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA concealed cellphone allows inmates to communicate with other inmates to coordinate acts of violence, including against correctional staff,\u201d Majzub said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFurthermore, a concealed phone allows inmates to conduct criminal activity, including facilitating drug trafficking and other offences, and to interfere with the integrity of the justice system by threatening or intimidating witnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Crown had recommended Rai serve two years in prison, while Rai\u2019s lawyer suggested a conditional sentence served in the community would be more appropriate.<\/p>\n
The judge agreed with the defence, saying Rai has no prior criminal record; pleaded guilty; has been in counselling; has strong support from her family, including her husband, whom she married in 2024; and \u201cdeeply and profoundly regrets her actions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe sincerely acknowledged that this was not a minor infraction, that she put her colleagues at risk, that a phone can facilitate violence and criminal conduct within a correctional institution \u2026 and that she\u2019s ashamed of her conduct, both for her family and in the eyes of the community,\u201d Majzub said.<\/p>\n
The judge said a conditional sentence would be more effective than incarceration to achieve the objectives of rehabilitation and reparations to the community.<\/p>\n
Rai will be under a curfew of noon to 6 a.m. during the first six months of her sentence, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for the second six months, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for the third six months and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for the final portion.<\/p>\n
The exception is if she has prior written approval from her supervisor for work or an emergency medical appointment.<\/p>\n