A 35-year-old man from Hong Kong has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in a violent home invasion that traumatized a British Columbia family. The incident, which occurred on April 27, 2024, involved a gang of attackers who inflicted severe physical and psychological harm while stealing approximately $2.2 million from the family's cryptocurrency accounts.

Tsz Wing Boaz Chan was sentenced by a provincial court judge on November 14. Court documents revealed that Chan traveled to Canada specifically to take part in the attack. The identities of the victims are protected by a publication ban.

On the night of the invasion, the family answered a knock at their door, finding two men dressed in Canada Post uniforms. Claiming to have a package that required a signature, the men gained entry to the home. They were soon joined by two additional masked individuals. The intruders spoke in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, referring to each other only by numbers.

Once inside, the attackers restrained the family members, binding their wrists with zip ties and demanding access to their electronic devices and passwords. They threatened to harm the family if their demands were not met. One of the intruders was armed with a firearm or imitation firearm. The ordeal lasted for 13 hours.

During the invasion, the attackers forced the family's daughter to strip and record a degrading video, threatening to release it if the family contacted authorities. The father was blindfolded and subjected to waterboarding, a form of torture that simulates drowning. He was also beaten and threatened with mutilation to extract information about the family's cryptocurrency accounts.

The attackers successfully drained the family's accounts, withdrawing a total of $1.6 million in U.S. currency, equivalent to about $2.2 million Canadian. The nightmare ended when the daughter managed to escape and call the police from a friend's house. Authorities arrived around 8:30 a.m. to find the father and mother bound and traumatized.

A subsequent search of the home revealed various items, including zip ties, surveillance cameras, and weapons. Police also discovered cameras positioned outside the home, indicating premeditation.

Victim impact statements highlighted the severe emotional toll on the family. The daughter reported being haunted by memories of the attack, feeling unsafe, and carrying a weapon for protection. The father expressed deep psychological scars, stating, "His sense of security has been shattered."

Chan entered Canada on April 5, 2024, and left on May 1, returning to Hong Kong. He was arrested upon his return to Vancouver on July 25. Chan pleaded guilty to charges including break and enter, unlawful confinement, and sexual assault. He claimed he was not directly involved in the cryptocurrency transfers but received a sum of HK$280,000, approximately $50,000 Canadian, which the judge ordered him to pay as restitution.

The judge emphasized the need for a strong message against such heinous crimes, stating that such actions would not be tolerated in Canada. Authorities continue to search for the other three suspects involved in the attack, with the investigation still active. Police have noted a concerning trend of home invasions targeting cryptocurrency investors in the region.