Edmonton real estate agent suspended for one month for lying and attempted bribery.
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An Edmonton-area real estate agent has had his license suspended following a hearing by the Alberta Real Estate Board.
In a decision dated Jan. 17, Michael (Mike) Cordell Banks of Excellence Real Estate Edmonton Ltd. is no longer permitted to sell real estate as of Jan. 1. 31 to February 28 and must pay a fine of $21,000 for violating the real estate law.
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The hearing panel found that between November 23, 2021, and December 31, 2021, the banks conducted commercial real estate transactions without being authorized to do so. - The information you need to know is sent directly to you
The hearing document shows that the Bank began communicating with a potential client about commercial real estate on November 23, 2021, without informing the client that it was not licensed to do business in commercial real estate.
The client told the Banks that he wanted to purchase a property before the end of the year.
The Banks attempted a commercial real estate exam at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) on December 8, 2021. At the time, NAIT required all students, staff, contractors and visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination.
The committee found that Banks was informed of the policy when booking the exam and was told that if he did not meet the requirements, he could be denied entry.
On the day of the exam, the ruling shows, Banks attempted to appear for the exam with a negative test result and was told that it was not acceptable.
He admitted that he had not been vaccinated, but returned a short time later with an old vaccination certificate without a QR code.
According to the ruling, the document appears to have been altered. He was told he had to provide evidence, including a QR code.
He then provided a QR code that, when scanned, did not match his identity.
According to the documents, he then said, "Okay, I'm not vaccinated, I just need to get tested."
He was denied entry.
He then claimed he had a medical reason for not being vaccinated and went to a screening center to request an exemption.
He returned a short time later and was also denied entry to the exam when it was discovered that he had lied to the testing center about a medical exemption from the vaccine. The ruling says he then told the test coordinator that he had a "big problem" pending and that he had to take the test, and attempted to bribe the coordinator with financial gifts of up to $1,000 or a year's salary.
He was asked to leave the premises.
Banks contacted the testing center's helpline that same day and asked if he had been marked absent from the test.
After being informed that he had been marked absent because he was not vaccinated, he was told he would have to pay for another test.
Banks said he was given access to the testing center, but the test would not load on the computer.
After it was confirmed that he had been denied access to the testing center and would have to purchase another test, the documents show that he told the testing center, "I've been through enough of a disaster for this, I've wasted a lot of time, I shouldn't have to pay for another test." Banks finally received his commercial real estate license on March 14, 2022. The panel found that Banks repeatedly lied in an attempt to gain admission to the exam, attempted to bribe the exam administrator, and lied to a potential client.
"On December 8, 2021, [Banks] failed to comply with the Student Educational Code of Conduct, Principle 2, which states that students must conduct themselves at all times with honesty, integrity, and respect, consistent with Rule 41(k) of the Real Estate Law Rules," the ruling states.
The document states that Banks has no other disciplinary history.
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