Graffiti tagger forced to pay $15,000 in fines, damages to city of Nanaimo
Global News
Kai Sei Cleave must complete a 1,000-word essay on why graffiti vandalism is legally and morally wrong, and issue a written apology to the mayor, council and citizens of Nanaimo.
The reign of “KHAOS” may soon be over.
A Nanaimo tagger who made his mark on the central Vancouver Island community with approximately 450 tags using the moniker “KHAOS” is now leaving his signature on legal documents after the city successfully sought payback in civil court.
“I’m glad the city went after him,” business owner Fred Jeffery told Global News.
“He certainly wasn’t very popular amongst our citizens for doing what he did.”
Kai Sei Cleave, 20, was accused of two counts of mischief for defacing public and private property, including buildings, railway trestles, dumpsters, underpasses, utility poles and boxes, and transit infrastructure.
When the BC Prosecution Service decided not to proceed with the criminal charges, the city of Nanaimo sued Cleave for costs in a civil action launched in January.
A settlement was reached in August with a consent order requiring the tagger to pay $10,000 in fines and $5,475 in damages to the city in instalments of $150 per month starting Sept. 1.
“I’m glad he’s being punished,” said Jeffery, who hopes Cleave will learn to have more respect for public space.
