Raif Fleihan
(ROB MUNRO / iNFOnews.ca)
November 15, 2019 - 4:27 PM
The notorious owner of Lake Country’s dilapidated Airport Inn has found himself in the crosshairs of the RCMP.
Raif Amine Fleihan, born in 1945, was in court today for a first appearance on charges of assault with a weapon and uttering threats from a Nov. 13 incident.
He’s also charged with breach of undertaking from a Nov. 14 incident.
READ MORE: Not afraid of getting the boot
Fleihan is no stranger to trouble, though he has no criminal history in B.C.
Most of the conflict he's been in is with the District of Lake Country. Council gave notice in August that the inn had to be shut down, bordered up and fenced off.
The deadline was Oct. 7 but only if all the illegal tenants had been relocated.
It ceased to operate as a motel some time ago but Fleihan the owner, continued to rent out units on a monthly basis for $1,200 to $3,000 a month, he told iNFOnews.ca.
Even though it’s a private residence and, therefore, does not fall within B.C. Housing’s mandate, that organization did step in to find additional housing for those who needed it.
Fleihan, however, said he’d be fine.
“We have a court system,” he said. “I’ve got enough money. I’ll wear them out.”
Lake Country boarded up suites that aren’t occupied.
Fleihan will be back in court on Dec. 10.
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