A Canadian man accused of aiding a notorious gangland killer’s escape from a British Columbia prison in 2022 has returned to Canada after being apprehended in Spain four months ago.
According to the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C., John Potvin was transferred back to Canadian authorities by Spanish officials on Thursday following his arrest in Spain.
Potvin, believed to be from Ottawa, was the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice and a Canada-wide warrant leading up to his arrest in September.
Law enforcement revealed that Potvin, along with two others, faced charges related to assisting in the escape of Rabih Alkhalil from custody. Alkhalil had fled from the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam, B.C., while facing trial for a 2012 murder. He was later convicted of first-degree murder in absentia.
After being extradited, Potvin remained in custody awaiting a scheduled court appearance set for Friday.
Footage of Alkhalil’s escape depicted two individuals posing as construction workers guiding him through the facility.
Alkhalil was apprehended in Qatar the previous year.