A collection agency is going after disgraced former air force colonel Russell Williams because he hasn't paid thousands of dollars to a victims of crime fund, CTV Ottawa has learned.
As part of his conviction for the murders and rapes of two Ontario women, as well as two other sexual assaults and numerous break-ins, Williams was ordered to pay $8,000 in victims surcharge fines.
But Williams has not paid the fine, despite having a generous military pension of about $60,000 a year.
"This is an individual, who unlike a lot of offenders, who has a pension, who has resources to actually pay," Steve Sullivan, the executive director of Ottawa Victims Services, said.
"When offenders choose not to pay, I guess we all have to question whether or not they really are remorseful."
Additionally, when Williams was arrested, he had two homes, including a new one in Ottawa's trendy Westboro neighbourhood.
He was making about $10,000 a month as commander of CFB Trenton before his arrest.
The federal ombudsman for victims of crime, Sue O'Sullivan, is urging the government to move on legislation to make victims surcharge mandatory.
"The government needs to act on this quickly and put that legislation forward," she told CTV Ottawa.
She said forcing convicts to pay up would add tens of millions of dollars to help victims.
A statement from a spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said further details on victim surcharge fines will be announced in due course.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem
