Teen ‘run amok’ in Surrey charged with extortion, part of messy divorce

An ugly divorce battle included a Surrey father blaming the mother for their son’s criminal charges – which involve allegations of extortion – including her and her mother spoiling the teenager with a $45,000 Mercedes.

Why it matters: The proliferation of young males committing crimes in Surrey often has people blaming the parents for how they raise their sons. In this case, both parents threw shade at the other for why their son was a criminal, including the involvement in extortions that have plagued Surrey.

The Surrey couple (the names in the BC Supreme Court ruling were redacted) have two children, one 18 and one 11, and the case was about who should get the majority of parenting time for the youngest child.

The father said it should be him, and used his troubled son as the reason why the mother should only see the children two hours a week and only under supervision.

The son, listed as E.B., has faced recent charges involving allegations of extortion, criminal harassment, and uttering threats to cause death or bodily injury. E.B. has been released on bail and is under house arrest with his mom.

“The respondent contends that the claimant has failed to manage E.B.’s behaviours and that he is at risk of further criminal involvement because of the claimant’s mismanagement of his adolescent behaviours,” reads the court ruling. “E.B. was recently convicted of serious criminal offences and is continuing to flout his responsibility to the court while on an intensive support and supervision order. He was also charged with breach of his release conditions before entering guilty pleas on his other charges. The respondent argues that the claimant’s failure to provide proper care and discipline disqualifies her from a parenting role with both children.”

The father said he was not aware of criminal charges at the time and that when he arrived home from India in the spring of 2024, he was served with divorce papers.

The mother responded that the father had committed acts of domestic violence, leading her to get a protection order against him.

The mom also admitted she didn’t tell the father about the criminal charges at the time because E.B. asked her not to say anything.

The father said, according to the court ruling, that he’s upset that his son was given a “very expensive Mercedes-Benz car which he drives without a driver’s license. To the extent that this child may own or have access to a car of this type, he is demonstrating indications of a child ‘run amok.’ This child’s difficulties began prior to the parties’ separation and they must now both step up and provide their son guidance, restrictions and rules while living with them.”

The judge agreed with part of the father’s argument, ordering that parenting time now be evenly split between the parents instead of just with the mother.