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	Accused Sex Offender Not under Investigation in B.c., Says AG CBC News October 20, 2007 http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/10/20/bc-.html Attorney General Wally Oppal says there are no specific allegations against accused child sex abuser Christopher Neil in B.C. Oppal says his earlier statements on the matter were misinterpreted and that police are only looking into some tips from the public about Neil, who was arrested in Thailand yesterday. "We have no indication, nor are we aware of any complaints to date, regarding individual instances of alleged criminal conduct by Mr. Neil within B.C.," said a press release from Oppal's office late Friday afternoon. On Friday morning, Oppal appeared to tell reporters that Neil was being investigated for incidents that took place while he was a teacher in B.C. The statement was widely reported by the CBC and several other media outlets on Friday, before Oppal's office issued the correction later that day. "Comments made today by B.C. Attorney General Wally Oppal regarding RCMP investigations into matters related to Christopher Paul Neil may have been misinterpreted," the written statement issued by Oppal's office said. "It is our understanding that Interpol raised issues related to Mr. Neil with the RCMP. However, this does not mean there is any substantive basis to draw any conclusions regarding Mr. Neil's activities within Canada or B.C.," said the release. RCMP spokeswoman Const. Annie Linteau confirmed that Neil is "a person of interest" and the force has received some tips about him in B.C. But she said there are no specific cases of abuse currently under investigation. Neil, 32, of Maple Ridge, B.C., is now in custody in Bangkok following an international manhunt in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of boys in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Neil's brother Matthew, of Maple Ridge, says the family is relieved Neil has been arrested, but remains in shock over the allegations against him. Meanwhile, an official with the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Vancouver has clarified Neil's connection to St. Patrick's Church in Maple Ridge. Neil volunteered at the church as part of his training at the Seminary of Christ the King, said Paul Schratz, the director of communications with the archdiocese. However, Schratz said Neil never taught at St. Patrick's School, which is connected with the church. Neil did attend Christ the King seminary school in Mission B.C. but abandoned his studies for the priesthood, and went on to become a teacher, said officials with the seminary. Neil was also a substitute teacher at the Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary School in Port Coquitlam six months ago, the office of the archdiocese in Vancouver told CBC News. Neil also worked as a chaplain and counsellor in the cadets, according to Capt. Hope Carr, a public affairs officer for the Canadian military. Neil served with the cadets at Fort Qu'Appelle, Sask., during the summer of 1997, then at HMCS Acadia in Cornwallis Park, N.S., during the summer of 1998 and 1999, and at the air cadets summer training centre in Greenwood, N.S., in the summer of 2000, the Department of National Defence says.
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