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Gamini told the real estate council panel that when his father died his mother asked him to sell their West Vancouver property as soon as possible.

Gamini testified that Behroyan told him that the realtor for John and Alexis Clague, a West Vancouver couple interested in buying the Kings Avenue property, had asked for a $100,000 bonus to complete a deal.

The panel heard that West Vancouver realtor Teresa De Cotiis was agent for the Clagues.

But Behroyan insisted that it was Gamini who offered Behroyan a bonus to complete a deal for the Kings Avenue home, which was a tough-to-sell property.

Behroyan said he never suggested to Gamini that the bonus would be paid to another realtor.

The panel said in weighing “diametrically opposed” testimony, it considered that both men had a motive to lie.

“But Mr. Behroyan arguably has even more at stake,” a decision states. “Apart from the potential liability to repay the bonus and other damages, he faces sanction from the (real estate council) that could have major repercussions on his professional standing and capacity to engage in lucrative employment.”

Gamini’s claim — that Behroyan had said another realtor was demanding the bonus — was supported by a text Gamini sent to Behroyan on Nov. 7: “Shahin 100k is a lot, try to bring it as low as you can I have to convince my family too.”

In its decision, the panel stated: “Behroyan informed (Gamini) that the offer to purchase the property would not be presented unless he agreed to pay a bonus to the buyer’s agent … This was not true and was an intentional misrepresentation of a material fact that deceived (Gamini) … At the same time, the representation was dishonest, as it forced (Gamini) to pay a bonus he was not obliged to pay in order to receive the offer … We had little difficulty finding Mr. Behroyan’s actions constituted deceptive dealing.”