Toronto officer accused of stealing deceased person's wallet, luxury watch appears in court
A Toronto police officer accused of stealing a deceased person's credit and debit cards, as well as a luxury watch, asserted his innocence in court on Tuesday.
About two years ago, on the evening of Feb. 18, 2022, Toronto Police Service Const. Boris Borissov was called to investigate the apartment of a missing man, where he discovered a suicide note upon arrival.
As they continued searching the home, Borissov found an empty box for a Tag Heuer watch. His phone records reveal he Googled the brand’s name shortly after.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
"I saw the empty watch box, and I was curious about watches," Borissov told the court on Tuesday.
Photos of a Tag Heuer watch, however, were taken on Borissov's phone later that same evening. Borissov assured the court it was "absolutely not" the watch from the deceased man's home.
"It's a photo of the watch," he said. "This is a watch that I had in my house."
Two months later, in April 2022, Borissov was also charged for allegedly taking a credit card linked to a separate missing person and giving it to a man, identified as Zvedzdomir Mollov, who subsequently used it to make a purchase at a Mississauga store. Following further investigation, police then discovered the officer and man fraudulently obtained vehicles together using the stolen credit card from the missing man, who was later found deceased.
On Tuesday, the court heard how Borissov found the deceased's wallet inside a jacket. He told the court he was concerned the wind that day would "blow the jacket away," which prompted him to bring the coat to his scout car. The TD credit card and American Express card, however, were later discovered at Mollov's home.
Borissov repeatedly denied stealing the cards when he was asked by his lawyer, Joanne Mulcahy. He also denied ever giving Mollov the cards.
As for how these stolen items made it to Mollov's home, Borissov said the "best [he] can think of" is that they had fallen inside his vehicle after he walked to Mollov's car to get himself a sandwich while he had the deceased's wallet.
Borissov pleaded not guilty to charges of theft, fraud, breach of trust by an official, obstruction of justice, and unauthorized use of a computer system. The police veteran of 16-years has been suspended with pay since February 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Freeland tables motion previewing omnibus budget bill
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass the sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
BREAKING Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
Judge raises threat of jail in hush money trial as he holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. And if he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
Court upholds Milwaukee police officer's firing for posting racist memes after Sterling Brown arrest
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a former Milwaukee police officer was properly fired for posting racist memes related to the arrest of an NBA player that triggered a public outcry.
Video captures deadly wrong-way police chase on Highway 401 in Ontario
A new video has surfaced showing a vehicle being pursued by police in the wrong direction on Highway 401 moments prior to a fatal crash that killed four people, including an infant and their grandparents.
New cancer treatment approved, but not everyone thinks it's what's best for patients
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.