Kim Elsasser
Kirpal
Kirpal Boparai, seen here in an Orchard and Vine file photo, pled guilty Monday to uttering threats against fellow Kelowna orchardist Karma Gill.
The former head of the BC Fruit Growers’ Association has pleaded guilty to uttering threats, after being seen on video waving a shovel at another orchardist.
Kirpal Singh Boparai was president of the BCFGA in 2012 until he stepped down over a dispute with the Okanagan Tree Fruit Cooperative. It was alleged he broke his contract with the Co-op by selling fruit directly from his farm.
In August 2013 Boparai showed up at in the driveway at the East Kelowna home of orchardist Karma Gill. He shouted at people in the home, and then walked to his pickup, grabbed a long-handled shovel, and waved it at Gill and some family members.
Unfortunately for Boparai, the entire incident was captured on a security video camera, and the video was later featured on a Global News report.
Gill was not home at the time, but arrived at around the same time the RCMP were arresting Boparai.
He later told Global News that Boparai appeared to be angry about being left out of a politicians’ tour of local orchards that suffered damage from a hail storm.
Boparai did not not appear in Kelowna Provincial Court Monday. The guilty plea was entered on his behalf by his lawyer.
Boparai will be sentenced at a later date.
