December 24, 2013 - 4:19 PM
VANCOUVER - A British Columbia lawyer convicted of helping the organized crime group known as the Greeks track down an informant has been disbarred.
William Mastop pleaded guilty in B.C. Supreme Court last December to passing on information about police activity to Greeks gang leader Peter Manolakos.
The Vernon lawyer was initially sentenced to one year in jail, but last month, a B.C. Court of Appeal judge increased his sentence to two and a half years.
In its own assessment, the Law Society of British Columbia has decided to disbar Mastop, saying it's important to deter other lawyers from illegally assisting clients.
The society says Mastop has not practised law since he was released on bail in 2010.
Manolakos and four other people were sentenced to prison last year after being convicted in the murders of three men. All but one of them are appealing their convictions.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013